Blogging, and
Podcasting
A brief guide for busy teachers
1

What is a blog?
A blog (short for web log) is a website where entries are made and
displayed in a reverse chronological order.
Blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as
food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online
diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs,
web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for
readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important
part of most early blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual although
some focus on photographs (photoblog), sketchblog, videos (vlog), or
audio (podcasting), and are part of a wider network of social media.
2

What can you use it
for?
Promote departmental/school activities
Study resource bank / homework details
AiFL peer assessment
Personal reflection
Enterprise activity
Collaborative blogging
3

Promote departmental activities
4

AiFL / Peer Assessment
5

Resource bank / homework details
6

Reflective Blog
7

Enterprise activity
8

Collaborative blogging
9

What is a podcast?
A podcast is a digital media file, or a series of such files, that is
distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on
portable media players and personal computers. A podcast is a specific
type of webcast which, like 'radio', can mean either the content itself
or the method by which it is syndicated; the latter is also termed
podcasting. The host or author of a podcast is often called a
podcaster. The term \"podcast\" is a portmanteau of the name of Apple's
portable music player, the iPod, and broadcast[1]; a pod refers to a
container of some sort and the idea of broadcasting to a container or
pod describes the process of podcasting. More about the name itself
can be found in the history of podcasting article.
Though podcasters' web sites may also offer direct download or
streaming of their content, a podcast is distinguished from other
digital media formats by its ability to be downloaded automatically,
using software capable of reading feed formats such as RSS or Atom.
10

What can be done?
Only boundary is your imagination
“Radio” shows
Recorded conversations
Vocabulary guides
Grammar guides
Speaking test exemplars
11

Some examples
12

A presentation
13

A Vocabulary Guide
14

A Radio Show
15

A Speaking Test
Exemplar
16

Grammar Guide
Thanks to “Partners in Excellence”
17

How can it be done?
Audacity / Garageband
Microphone
Computer / broadband connection
Blog / iTunes /
Time & Inspiration
18

Why should you
bother?
Fun (for you and students..honest)
Productive
Motivating / enthusing
Challenging...encourages quality
Using same tech. as students
19

Digital Video is do-able
20