Using the social phenomenon of blogs to connect people and build communities in a whole new way. The why, what, and how of blogging in ministry.

2. Objectives
 Discern and address current new media realities in
my life, the Church and the world in light of the
Gospel. (1.4)
 Relate respectfully with a diversity of persons, age
groups and cultures by discovering how I can blog
meaningfully with them in today‟s Church. (1.6)
 Exercise flexibility in ministerial situations by
meaningfully exploring the what and how of E-
communication. (4.19 PCL)
 Demonstrate effective oral and written
communication skills for catechetical purposes by
blogging. (5.12 PCL)

3. Learn what a blog is and

how a typical blog is
structured
 Learn how to get started
 Understand why blogging
is a powerful tool for
ministry, the
classroom, your own
professional
development.

4. Fundamentals The New Tools
 Global  Blogs
 Topical  Pods
 Frequent, brief  Social networks
communications  Wikis
 Texting
 Viral videos
 Tweets
 Virtual worlds

5. Web 2.0 Tagging
 
Social Networking RSS
 
Blogs Wikis
 
It’s all about the 2 C’s
Collaboration & Convergence

6. Do you write one?

 Do you read any?
 Close friend of RSS
 Microblogging anyone?
Cool Tool: Technorati.com - Website
That tracks all things blog

7. What presidential candidates use?
A.
B. An easy way to create a webpage?
C. An opportunity for a conversation?
D. All above options

8. Short for weblog, blogs are online

journals that display the most recent
content first
 Can combine text, images, and links to
audio and video files (podcasting)
 Readers may often leave comments and
interact with the writer
 Blogger.com offers free blog space

10. “In 2004 when Technorati started, the
typical reaction to the word „blog‟ was
„huh – can you repeat yourself?‟
Today, blogs are everywhere – even
presidential candidates have blogs. The
blog has forever changed the way
publishing works – now anyone can be a
publisher. The issue is no longer
distribution, rather, it‟s relevance.”
Brad Field, Managing Director, Foundry Group

11.  Step 1  Step 2
Begin Add
Blogging Blogging
Myself into my
ministry

12.  Step 1
Begin
Blogging
Myself

13. Read other minister blogs and “listen” to

what is being said by others.
Additionally, look closely at the
comments left by others (important to
get the lay of the land!)
 Begin leaving comments on these blogs
to understand how “blogging
conversations” begin and continue.

14. Go to -
http://delicious.com/ccerveny/blog_min
istry
That is “underscore” /blog_ministry

15. Choose a blogging platform and set up

your own blog – choose an
applicable, interesting topic that you wish
to explore more or one that you want to
share with a specific audience.
› All of the following are “hosted”
platforms, meaning your content is stored on the
server
Edublogs.org

Wordpress.com

Blogger.com

LiveJournal.com

Vox.com

Typepad.com ($4.95/month)


16. Set reasonable posting goals for yourself –

adjust as you go.
 All the while, continue reading other
blogs, comment, and while there, invite
others to visit your blog (experience the
read, write, read, write pattern of
blogging). Actively seek and encourage
the “cross-pollination of ideas.”
 Engage in “connective reading and
writing” (blogging) with a “growth mindset.”
 Engage in “connective reading and writing”
(blogging) with the intent to freely “share.”

19. A series of videos are located at
http://edublogs.org/videos/

20.  Step 2
Add
Blogging
into my
ministry

21. Blogging is a revolution in
communication, community, and
authentic conversation; a revolution that
churches cannot afford to ignore.
Welcome to the blogosphere – the new
online home of the curious and creative.
- Brian Bailey

22. Why should the ministry I‟m involved in

embrace blogging?
 What can blogs accomplish in my
ministry?
 Remember – “Blogging is
simple, inexpensive, and powerful.” –
Brian Bailey

23. Communication: Who is your audience?

What story do they need to hear from you?
E-Learning: Who is your audience? How will

they be “engaged” with you?
What is your motivation for writing?

Is your blog a tool or a toy?

Is the story of your ministry being told?

Are those involved with you part of the

conversation?
How will you handle comments?


24. Does the blog belong to you or the

parish?
 Is your blog personal, professional, or
organizational?
 How much are you willing to pay?
(Normally free)
 Do you have a name for your blog?

25. Upcoming Events

 Testimonies and Stories of Life Change
 Ministry News
 Pictures
 Special Events
 Weekend Message
 Start a conversation
 Connect Your Staff

27. Welcome new catechists with a picture
1.
and short introduction.
Cast the vision for an upcoming event
2.
and ask for help.
Spotlight one of your best catechists.
3.
Celebrate birthdays and
4.
milestones, such as a volunteering
anniversary.
Share prayer requests for catechists, the
5.
ministry, and the church as a whole.

28. Announce the week‟s lesson and invite
6.
catechists to download an outline.
7. Post ministry stories that show the true
impact of what your catechists do.
8. Answer common questions.
9. Publish photos from the weekend or a
recent event. (Note: Children – Extra steps)
10. Familiarize catechists with the staff in
whatever fun way you like.
- Adapted from: Blogging Church, pg. 57

29. Brevity is BEAUTIFUL!

 Send People Away (People come back
to places that send them away)
 Spelling Matters
 Picasso famously said, “Good artists
copy. Great artists steal.”
 Eventually develop a personal voice that
is familiar.

30. Give credit

 Link, Quote, But Never Copy
Perry Noble has a great rule: never write
anything on your blog that you wouldn’t
be willing to say to someone’s face. It’s
a simple way to avoid surprises.

31. Start Blogging Without the Support of Your Church

Leadership
 Draft Your Bloggers
 Avoid Ownership
 Use the Same Great Content You Have Elsewhere
 Write Without Passion or Personality
 Write When You Have Time
 Build Your Blog in Pleasantville
 Pretend the Rest of the World Doesn‟t Exist
 One Blog Fits All

32. Is a format for delivering content

 Ability to subscribe to sources of your
choice and have the latest updates
delivered directly to you throughout the
day.
 RSS feed is updated every time someone
posts a new item or makes a change to a
previous one.
 Click a Single button and all updates
brought to you.

33. Really Simple Syndication

 Push content
› Blog
› Audio files (podcasting)
› Feedburner.com, UI Web Toolbox
Receive content

› Subscribe to a feed
› iTunes, Yahoo, Firefox, IE 7 all
aggregate RSS feeds
Dynamic web sites

› Include a feed on your course site
› http://www.uis.edu
Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your
blog at We Blog Cartoons.

34.  Step 2
Add
Blogging as
a Student
Activity

37.  10 year old
 Honor the memory of her
grandfather who had died the year
before (2007)
 Decided to do one good deed
each day
 With mother‟s approval, to share her
work with the world

42. What will the student blogs focus on? To

jumpstart your creativity, a listing of ideas
can be found at
http://web20intheclassroom.blogspot.com/
One class blog where all students

contribute as writers/authors
Group blogs, consisting of 3 to 5 authors

each
Every student has his/her own individual

blog
Who will be the primary audience of the

blog? How will you/your students handle
the comments?

43. Check your diocesan/school AUP

(Acceptable Use Policy)
 Outline how you want to use the
blogs, meaning how you want to structure
student posts and comments, develop
rationale for class use (don‟t forget that
blogging supports many of the ISTE NETS for
Students.
 Get parents informed and involved.
 Know your blogging platform.

44. Elementary Level High School Level
 
Class Blogmeister Edublogs.org
Imbee.com 21Classes.com
EPals School Blog ClassPress ($24.95/year)
ClassPress ($24.95/year for
unlimited student blogs Adult

under your account.)
7-Blog Tools Choices
Middle School Level

http://webdesign.about.c
21Classes.com om/od/weblogs/tp/aat
EPals School Blog p_weblogs.htm
Edublogs.org
ClassPress ($24.95/year)

45. Go Slow – Digital Natives? Well…

 Do lots of step-by-step demos
 Go to
http://delicious.com/ccerveny/blogging
or
http://delicious.com/jdblack64/blogging
for additional information about
blogging
 Read tips by other blog using educators
or ministers

48. Baily, Brian. The Blogging Church. John

Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2007.
Walsh, Bob. Clear Blogging. Apress, 2007.

Demopoulos, What No One Ever Tells You

About…Blogging and Podcasting. Kaplan
Publishing, 2007.
Black, Jani. Blogging in the Classroom for

Beginners. ISTE
Webinar, Wednesday, October 22, 2008.
Spellos, James. Welcome to Wiki-ville The

New Face of the Internet. 2008 Rejuvenate
Marketplace Keynote, November 12, 2008

49. Caroline Cerveny, SSJ, D. Min.
President