in the CLASSROOM BY KELLY ANDERSON and BRAD HICKS

Blogging is a term that comes from web logs. Web logs are simply websites that can be easily updated. What is blogging?

Uses of blogs Allows for instantaneous publishing to the internet and access to a world wide audience. Blogs are becoming a fairly common text used by a wide range of people in society to communicate their thoughts to the world.

Why use it in a classroom context? Blogging obviously involves the use of computers. The students’ blogs have a real audience. Instructions can be accessed from home, the dog can’t eat their homework anymore! Less paperwork.

 As of March Million Filipinos online (22% of the Philippines' current 90 Million population.) What do Filipinos do Online? Nielsen, a consumer information group, and Yahoo! conducted a survey and found out that Pinoys online are between 10 and 29 years old, educated and techno-savvy. 53 percent of Philippines' Internet users play online games and 24 percent read news online. "Online transactions or commerce remain low," shared Jay Bautista ~ Nielsen Executive Director, with only 3% or 600,000 doing business online as of the moment. Nielsen, a consumer information group, and Yahoo!

Class Portal Online Filing Cabinet E-Portfolio Collaborative Space Knowledge Management and Articulation Classroom Use

Before you start blogging 1. Curriculum should drive the use of any technology. Have you got the computer and internet access you need? Do you feel confident in your own ability to use this technology? Are there people you can ask for assistance? 2. How much parent involvement if any, will you seek? What security measures are needed? Notifying those in charge.

Getting started with blogging 1. There are lots of free blog sites that will allow you to set up a blog for every student you teach. It is often easier to set the blogs up yourself initially, as this allows you the opportunity to arrange the settings you want for moderation of the blogs. 2. You can also set up an RSS feed from each blog so that any new posts go directly to you for checking. 3. Other things to consider are whether you will set the look of the blogs, or allow the students to create their own themes. The overall structure and content of the blogs is often worth planning before you start as well.

Actually doing it 1. Once you are ready to start blogging, do it as a whole class if possible until students are familiar with the process and the technology. Blogging Guidelines Clear instructions 2. Provide structured tasks and focus questions Provide clear guidelines for commenting on other people’s blogs

Curriculum driven blogs A blog in the classroom context is not a personal diary. Students need clear expectations stated about what is appropriate content. (If they want to set up a personal blog, that is their choice, but not yours to monitor!) Any writing previously done on paper can be transferred to a blog context. Blogs can be used in any teaching context: primary, secondary and tertiary. Blogs are an excellent reflection tool, both for students and teachers. Blogs are very interactive and allow for a wider range of constructive criticism.

STEP 1: Create a GMAIL account

STEP 2: Fill-up GMAIL form… then click button at the end of the form.

STEP 3: This window will appear. Click on this button.

STEP4: This window will appear. Your GMAIL account. Click on sign-out

STEP 5: Open your web browser and then type in the address bar- STEP 6: Click on this button

STEP 7: Fill-up blogger form… then click button at the end of the form.

STEP 8: Name the blog and blog address

STEP 9: Choose a template for your blog

Finally: You have created your blog account.

STEP 1: Enter your GMAIL username and password

STEP 2: This window will appear.

References: and-do.htmlhttp:// and-do.html Learnerblogs Blogger Blogmeister Think.com Bloglines (to manage RSS feeds) Blogs Wikis Podcasts and other powerful web tools for classrooms by Will Richardson. (