Do you... blog?

In this session we will look at... A (very) quick history of blogging What blogs are generally used for How they might be exploited in education What a blog is

A (very) quick history of blogging

What blogs are generally used for

How they might be exploited in education

What a blog is

What’s a blog? A blog is: “ … a website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order.” Wikipedia, 2006.

The History - where did blogs come from? since the early days of the WWW started life as “homepages” and developed into online journals July 1999 - free, commercially available 'blogging software' arrived Blogs of all types - personal, educational, journalistic, and commercial - have mushroomed since then

since the early days of the WWW

started life as “homepages” and developed into online journals

July 1999 - free, commercially available 'blogging software' arrived

Blogs of all types - personal, educational, journalistic,

and commercial - have mushroomed since then

Some examples Experiences e.g. blogs from Baghdad - giving an insight into life during war, travel blogs. Fans / fanatics - e.g. football fans charting team success / failure. Special interest - professional e.g. technology, literature and writing; personal e.g. food, wine, hobbies/pursuits etc Publishing - outlet for writing/creativity. Personal- thoughts, opinions. Educational - mainstream and EFL/ESL abound.

Experiences e.g. blogs from Baghdad - giving an insight into life during war, travel blogs.

Fans / fanatics - e.g. football fans charting team success / failure.

Special interest - professional e.g. technology, literature and writing; personal e.g. food, wine, hobbies/pursuits etc

Publishing - outlet for writing/creativity.

Personal- thoughts, opinions.

Educational - mainstream and EFL/ESL abound.

Educational blogs... … typically divided into 3 categories: Teacher / tutor blog Student / learner blog Class blog - by teacher for students - by student(s) - by class members

Teacher / tutor blog

Student / learner blog

Class blog

Teacher / tutor blogs Class schedule Regular reading practice Channel of communications between tch & stds. Web links Syllabus guide Self study guide

Class schedule

Regular reading practice

Channel of communications between tch & stds.

Web links

Syllabus guide

Self study guide

Student / learner blogs Individual / group projects Learner diaries Writing practice Give students greater sense of ownership Allow q uieter students to express themselves

Individual / group projects

Learner diaries

Writing practice

Give students greater sense of ownership

Allow q uieter students to express themselves

Class blogs Bulletin board Class discussions Action research / learning Publishing platform for student work Develop writing skills

Bulletin board

Class discussions

Action research / learning

Publishing platform for student work

Develop writing skills

Here’s one I prepared earlier An example of a teacher to class blog advanced students (teenagers). Themed discussion Teacher provides content and students comment. http://7e8as.blogspot.com/

An example of a teacher to class blog

advanced students (teenagers).

Themed discussion

Teacher provides content and students comment.