Blogging

The Blogging Phenomenon Its impact on Language Learning

overview
What is a blog
Blogging in learning : its roles
Why blogging ?
Blogs vs. Discussion Boards
Using blogs in the classroom
Types of blogs
Features
Tips
Planning your blog
Blogging software

What is a blog ...?
A blog (a portmanteau made by contracting the phrase "web log") is a website in which items are posted on a regular basis and displayed in reverse chronological order. Like other media , blogs often focus on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news. Some blogs function as online diaries . A typical blog combines text, images , and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. Since its appearance in 1995, blogging has emerged as a popular means of communication, affecting public opinion and mass media around the world .

Weblogs can be seen as....
ways to improve our own writing
just in time learning arenas
places to share
easy ways to create websites quickly
ways to connect with others and make connections to learning
perfect spots for quick writes
places to visit daily, which provide elements of surprise
places to collaborate

Why blogging...?
we can place lessons, assignments, and announcements online.
expand students’ access to relevant materials by incorporating links
enhance class interaction through online discussions and chats
facilitate idea sharing
motivate and prepare students for class
maintain communication with absent students
challenge students by placing quizzes and tests online
get parents more involved by giving them access to their children’s assignments

Blogs vs. Discussion Boards
stds can start their blogs easily
easy to link to other websites
supported discussion + informational posts= responsibility
may have good search engines built-in
go public
stds can’t start their own DB
not generally so
imply discussion but less sense of responsibility
not possible
are private

advantages of using blogs
They allow instant publishing to the Internet
They cost little or nothing
They provide a comment feature that allows interaction from others
They are dynamic and focus on content from the participants - listening, talking, collaborating, having a dialog, sharing
They work for any subject
They are empowering - they give everyone a voice
They make writing THE focus - send the message that writing matters
They promote ownership of work
They allow us to learn from our students
They allow us to reflect on our teaching and our student’s learning
They allow the interchange of thoughts and ideas
They are exciting - seeing others comment on your thoughts/anticipating comments and replies

Types of weblogs for use in EFL classrooms
The Tutor Blog
The Learner Blog
The Class Blog

The Tutor Blog : Run by the tutor for the learner
Gives daily reading practice to the learners
Promotes exploration of English websites
Encourages online verbal exchange by use of comment buttons
Provides class or syllabus information
Serves as a resource of links for self-study

The Learner Blog
Individual/ in groups
Best suited for reading and writing classes:
Virtual composition books
Searching the web for sites to link, on the topic.
Individual journals: track progress
Inspire self reflection
Mega-blogs can be run by tutors

The Class Blog :
In conversation-based classes : used like Bulletin Boards to post messages, images, links related to topic/ thoughts
Interm./advanced levels : stds can create online resources for others, developing research and writing skills.

Virtual space for international classroom language exchanges.

Teachers could develop a classroom blog to..........
post short current events/ articles to invite students thoughts, reactions, and possible solutions
create a literature circle
post photos and ask students to create captions
foster book discussions in the form of an online book club
encourage student writing to demonstrate learning
direct students to curriculum web sites and have them read and make responses
communicate with another classroom
stimulate entries about their learning and how this learning is relevant for them

invite one student a day to post a summary and reflections on the day's learning
observe the growth of plants or animals or keep records of science experiments
spot and record student kindnesses or good deeds
develop new vocabulary: students create sentences/ a brief paragraph using new vocabulary
enable students to post their ideas for the classroom/ school
let student write short reviews of books they are enjoying reading
post quotes and have students write their interpretation and apply it to something in their life

Teachers could create an informational class blog to ......
post a daily/weekly synopsis of the curriculum taught
publish homework assignments
give a birdseye view of the class for parents
honour and celebrate class achievements
list class-related information such as calendars, events.
show examples of good students’ work and the teacher's response to it
provide a day-by-day description of a specific teaching unit
take a moment out of the classroom day to share with family and friends

Teachers could create a reflective, journal type blog to..........
share ideas for teaching activities to use in the classroom
share classroom technology management techniques
make reflections on each teaching day
explore important teaching and learning issues
provide tips for beginning teachers
spot gems of wisdom from the students in their classroom on any number of ideas
produce how-to's on using specific technology programs in the curriculum
keep a record of a new teaching project with what worked and what didn't

You can have your students create their own weblogs to..........
complete class writing assignments
create an ongoing portfolio of samples of their writing
express their opinions on topics you are studying in class
write comments, opinions, or questions on daily news items or issues of interest
discuss activities they did in class and tell what they think about them
write about class curriculum topics, newly-learned vocabulary words and idioms
showcase their best writing pieces

You can also ask your class to create a shared weblog to...
complete project work in small groups, assigning each group a different task
showcase products of project-based learning
complete a webquest

Features
Comment feature
Archiving entries
Linking
Permalink
Blogrolls
RSS feeds
Photos/images
Audio/video
Moblogging
Ipodding

Tips
Keep it simple at first
Nothing “right” or “wrong”
Use your creativeness to motivate stds
Don’t linger on every posting
Post regularly
Commnet on your fellow classmates’ commnets
When quoting sources, give them credit
Write sth about yourself
Choose your links

Planning your blog
What purpose will it serve?
What name will you give it?
What content will it include?
How will you organize it?
Type of info?
Students’ postings?
What audience will it address?

Weblog software
without commercial advertising:
http://pitas.com/
http://diaryland.com/
http://www.upsaid.com/
http://webcrimson.com/
http:// www.schoolblogs.com /
commercial software
http://www.blogger.com/

Sample Blogs
Michael Coghlan’s
http://mikecogh.blogspot.com/2005/07/greetings-to-those-at-rosario-efl.html
Teresa Almeida d’Eça’s
http ://www.malhatlantica.pt/teresadeca/school/fwe5-feb05.htm
Ishbel Galloway
http://www.sfu.ca/~igallowa/blogging/
Diaryland
http://diaryland.com/
Sus Nyrup’s
http://mysteryguest.blogspot.com/
ESL + EFL friendly blogs with comments
http://www.eslgo.net/
Findory
http://www.findory.com/
Dafne Gonzalez’s Student Vanessa’s
http://vanessamartini.blogspot.com/
vBlog Central
http://www.vblogcentral.com/
A Life in Wales
http://alifeinwales.typepad.com/a_life_in_wales/
Red is an Apple
http://www.schoolblogs.com/Val/
Our Class 2005
http://ourenglishclass2.blogspot.com/
CAE 2005 (my students’)
http://cae2005.blogspot.com/
CALL SIG Rosario
http://callsigrosario.blogspot.com/

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Blogging

by RitaZ

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