Blogs in Education “ The Computer as an Educational Tool: Productivity and Problem Solving” ©Richard C. Forcier and Don E. Descy

Web Blogs “The Web should be a medium for communication between people.” “The Web should be a medium for communication between people.” - Tim Berners-Lee - Tim Berners-Lee

What is a blog? Website that allows people to publish content to the Internet Website that allows people to publish content to the Internet Quick Quick Easy Easy

History of Web Blogs Blogger by Pyra Labs Blogger by Pyra Labs Free creation and hosting of blogs Free creation and hosting of blogs Manila by UserLand Software Manila by UserLand Software Server-based content management software Server-based content management software

Making a Blog Very simple! Very simple! Using a browser-based interface Using a browser-based interface Choose a template Choose a template Fill in a form Fill in a form Click a button Click a button A new blog is created! A new blog is created!

Who writes the information? Site owner Site owner Information from websites, users, and other sources Information from websites, users, and other sources Feedback from other readers Feedback from other readers Feedback from the teacher Feedback from the teacher

What’s the topic of a blog? Centered around one or two main ideas or themes Centered around one or two main ideas or themes Owner’s interest Owner’s interest Developing commentaries on themes Developing commentaries on themes May have hyperlinks to related websites May have hyperlinks to related websites

Types of Blogs Content types Content types Diary/Journal Diary/Journal Links Links Photos Photos Archives for articles and research Archives for articles and research

Instructor Options Content-related Content-related Networking/Personal sharing knowledge Networking/Personal sharing knowledge Instructional tips for students Instructional tips for students Course announcements Course announcements Course readings Course readings

Student Options Reflective/Writing journals Reflective/Writing journals Knowledge management Knowledge management Assignment review Assignment review Dialogue for groupwork Dialogue for groupwork E-portfolios E-portfolios Share course-related resources Share course-related resources

E-portfolios Increasingly popular Increasingly popular Organize/present student work Organize/present student work Connections among archive materials Connections among archive materials Used for group work Used for group work Easy to create Easy to create

Blog Benefits Feedback from readers Feedback from readers Strengthens reading skills/strategies Strengthens reading skills/strategies Allows interactions with peers Allows interactions with peers Makes students more willing to: Makes students more willing to: Read Read Write Write Discuss Discuss Devote time and energy to create a successful blog Devote time and energy to create a successful blog

Key Tips Incorporate blogs as k ey, task-driven elements of the course Incorporate blogs as k ey, task-driven elements of the course Use blogs for what they are good for Use blogs for what they are good for Use proven/effective blogging tools Use proven/effective blogging tools