This document discusses blogs, their uses for education, and how to create a class blog. Key points: - Blogs are websites that display posts in reverse-chronological order and can include text, photos, videos, and audio. They allow for commentary on a subject. - Educational blogs can be used for student portfolios, reflections, project diaries, and more. They encourage writing and collaboration. - Creating a class blog is free using services like Blogger. Instructors set guidelines and assess student participation and blog content. Considerations include objectives, resources, and proper blog use.

1. 1
What is a blog?
• Is a journal or diary (Blog, 2006)
• Usually displayed in a reverse chronological order.
• A commentary or news on a particular subject
• blogs are primarily textual…
– they sometimes contain;
• photographs (photoblog)
• videos (vlog)
• audio (podcasting)
• Are part of the social network / media

2. ACTIVE TEACHING & LEARNING
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3. Blogs and learning
• Encourages students to write
• Students will/may write even when they do
not need to
• Reach out to the world
• Feedback from peers, teachers and the world
(possibly)

4. Blogs and learning
• Students link up with the writings of others
• Collaborative blogs
• Students realise that their peers can read their
work ~ motivating ~ driven
• Progress reports
• Project diaries
• Field reports

5. Educational Blogging
 Using blog for free blogging services, instructors
in varied disciplines are addressing:
 e-portfolios
 Writing concepts (audience, voice…)
 Publishing
 copyright and plagiarism
 authentic writing
 writing in a digital age

6. Web + Log = blog
• A web site, usually maintained by an individual
with regular entries of commentary, descriptions
of events, or other material such as graphics or
video.
• Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-
chronological order.
– personal “diary” or
– public forum on a topic (politics, hobby, research...)
– corporate and commercial blogs
• http://technorati.com/pop/blogs/

7. Reading Blogs
• According to 2006 survey by the Pew Internet
and American Life Project
– 39% of Internet users (57 million American adults)
said they read blogs
– An increase of 27% from 2004
• Universal McCann (March 2008) determined
that there are 184 million blogs worldwide
and 26.4 million are in the United States.
– Blog readers = 346 million worldwide with 60.3
million being Americans.
– 77% of active Internet users report that they read
blogs.

8. • http://www.edtechpost.ca/gems/matrix2.gif

9. Blogs Offer Students & Teachers
• online discussion through time-stamped
comments
• video posting (vlog)
• podcasting
• posting via email & cell phone
• free web space for class materials, portfolios,
projects
• minimal web design skills required

10. Getting Started - Blog Hosts
• FREE blogger.com (from Google) and
• livejournal.com, wordpress.com
• edublogs.org - Create your own ad-free fully featured WordPress blog
including free assessment tool from the Chalkface Project and an ad-free
wikispace
• Students may be familiar with sites such as
MySpace.com, Vox.com which offer blogging.
• And paid services such as typepad.com

11. Many Styles & Templates Offered

12. How Blog can be used?
• Blog as writing portfolio
• Reflections on course modules
• A tool for web design
• http://ss2233.blogspot.com

13. Creating a Blog
• Visit www.blogger.com

14. Creating a Blog (1)
• Fill in all fields: User name, password, blog name, email address, accept
terms. Click on CONTINUE.
• However, if you already have an account from Gmail, Google Groups, or
Orkut, instead of doing the above, click on sign in first.

15. Creating a Blog (2)
• Name your blog
– Enter your blog title, blog address (URL), word verification. Click on
CONTINUE.

16. Creating a Blog (3)
• Select a template (colors, layouts)
– Click on CONTINUE.

17. Creating a Blog (4)
• Your blog has been created -
– Click on START POSTING.

18. Inviting Blog Members (1)
• Click on Settings.

19. • Click on Permissions.
Inviting Blog Members (2)

20. Inviting Blog Members (3)
• Click on ADD AUTHORS.

21. Inviting Blog Members (4)
• Enter your
students’
complete
email
addresses
• Click on INVITE
to send the
blog invitation
to your
students.

22. Joining the Blog (1)
• Students will receive an e-mail invitation
with a link to the registration site.

23. Joining the Blog (2)
• If you are a Blogger user, sign in with your username and password.
• If you are not a Blogger user, you will have to create an account.

24. Posting a Blog Entry
Type the title & text message and then click on
PUBLISH POST.

25. Posting a Photo in Your Blog (1)
 Click on the image icon, which is indicated with a box showing a picture with a blue
sky. You’ll find this icon in between the ABC checkmark and the Add Video icon.

26. Posting a Photo in Your Blog (2)
• Click on Browse and select your image.
• Click on Upload image.

27. Adding a Hyperlink (1)
Click on the hyperlink icon, which is indicated with a picture of a
chain link and globe.

28. Adding a Hyperlink (2)
• Type in the URL and then click on Publish Post.

29. Application
As you create your class blog,
consider the following:
– What are your instructional objectives?
– How will you set up guidelines for proper use
of the blog?
– How will you assess your students?
– Do all participants have the resources to
engage in your class blog?