Welcome to Blogging Basics

Agenda

• Let’s define blogs

• Develop an understanding of blogs

• Identify ways to use blogs in education

• Look at two examples of active blogs; Blogger and Wordpress

• Learn how to start your own blog

• Have fun

What is a Blog?• According to webopedia, a blog is

basically a web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual.

• A person who writes/authors blogs is called a blogger.

• Individual articles on a blog posts are called “blog posts”, “posts”, or “entries”.

• There are numerous kinds of blogs

What a blog can have?

• Text

• Images

• Videos

• Audio Files

• PowerPoint Presentations

• Links to other blogs and web pages

How to Use Blogs in Education• Content-related blogs• Networking and personal knowledge sharing• Instructional tips for students• Course announcements and readings• Reflective or writing journals• Assignment submission and review• Dialogue for group work• E-portfolios• Share course-related resources

Why Blog in the Classroom?• It gives writing a purpose• It involves different learning styles• It can inspire students• Your students can inspire others• Students who do not participate in

class may be more willing to talk online

Things to Consider First!• Goals need to be clear

• Feedback needs to be immediate

and meaningful

• Expectations can be teacher and/or student formulated.

• Narrative assessment or rubric assessment or no assessment

How are you going to manage your blog?

1. Do your homework, become a blogger

2. Select your blog hosting service by

type of blog you want to have

3. Begin with one main account and have students go through stages of blogging

4. Model/Scaffold what is a quality post/comment

5. Expectations should be clear; blogging rules/etiquette and blogging safety.