Blogging

Izquierdo, E (2014) Web 2.0 tools: BlogsIzquierdo, E (2014) Web 2.0 tools: Blogs
BloggingBlogging
The best way to be ‘The best way to be ‘youyou’ and share it with others’ and share it with others
Evelyn Izquierdo
evelyn.izquierdo@gmail.com
UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DE VENEZUELA
FACULTAD DE HUMANIDADES Y EDUCACIÓN
MAESTRÍA EN INGLÉS
COMO LENGUA EXTRANJERA
Mayo 2014

Izquierdo, E (2014) Web 2.0 tools:Izquierdo, E (2014) Web 2.0 tools:
BlogsBlogs
BlogsBlogs
Agenda:Agenda:
 Define what a blog isDefine what a blog is
 Know its different educational usesKnow its different educational uses
 Discuss about the potential of blogging in the ELT field and as a tool forDiscuss about the potential of blogging in the ELT field and as a tool for
professional developmentprofessional development
 Know different blog hostsKnow different blog hosts
 See some blog samplesSee some blog samples
 Create your own blog in BloggerCreate your own blog in Blogger
 Set up an ESL/EFL/ESP blog:Set up an ESL/EFL/ESP blog:
 Select templates, post messages and edit entriesSelect templates, post messages and edit entries
 Comment on other blogsComment on other blogs
 Explore options for author’s managementExplore options for author’s management
 Discuss concepts of tagging and syndication (RSS)Discuss concepts of tagging and syndication (RSS)
 Invite colleagues and students to visit your blog.Invite colleagues and students to visit your blog.
 Homework: Blog design, entries, widgets, posts, comments, etcHomework: Blog design, entries, widgets, posts, comments, etc

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What is a blog?What is a blog?
Before defining what a blog is, please, watch this video:Before defining what a blog is, please, watch this video:

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A blog is…A blog is…
“…“… a Web page that serves as aa Web page that serves as a
publicly accessible personalpublicly accessible personal
journal for an individual orjournal for an individual or
company. Blogs are typicallycompany. Blogs are typically
written in chronological orderwritten in chronological order
and displayed in reverseand displayed in reverse
chronological order to thechronological order to the
reader… The word blog itself isreader… The word blog itself is
a play on the wordsa play on the words WeblogWeblog
(Web + log)(Web + log), as most blogs will, as most blogs will
be displayed in a journal or logbe displayed in a journal or log
entry format, where most areentry format, where most are
updated daily or moreupdated daily or more
frequently than most Web sitesfrequently than most Web sites
would be….” (Webopedia,would be….” (Webopedia,
2009)2009)

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To what extend can we useTo what extend can we use
blogs?blogs?

BlogsBlogs
Types of blogs in language teachingTypes of blogs in language teaching
Aaron Campbell (2003) has outlinedAaron Campbell (2003) has outlined
three types of blogs for use withthree types of blogs for use with
language classes:language classes:
 The Tutor BlogThe Tutor Blog is run by theis run by the
teacher of a class. The content ofteacher of a class. The content of
this type of blog can be limited tothis type of blog can be limited to
syllabus, course information,syllabus, course information,
homework, assignments, etc. Or thehomework, assignments, etc. Or the
teacher may choose to write aboutteacher may choose to write about
his or her life, sharing reflectionshis or her life, sharing reflections
about the local culture, targetabout the local culture, target
culture and language to stimulateculture and language to stimulate
online and in-class discussion. Inonline and in-class discussion. In
this type of blog, students arethis type of blog, students are
normally restricted to being able tonormally restricted to being able to
write comments to the teacher'swrite comments to the teacher's
posts.posts.

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……Types of blogs in languageTypes of blogs in language
teachingteaching
 The Class BlogThe Class Blog is a shared space,is a shared space,
with teacher and students beingwith teacher and students being
able to write to the main area. It isable to write to the main area. It is
best used as a collaborativebest used as a collaborative
discussion space, an extra-discussion space, an extra-
curricular extension of thecurricular extension of the
classroom. Students can beclassroom. Students can be
encouraged to reflect in moreencouraged to reflect in more
depth, in writing, on themesdepth, in writing, on themes
touched upon in class. Studentstouched upon in class. Students
are given a greater sense ofare given a greater sense of
freedom and involvement thanfreedom and involvement than
with the tutor blog.with the tutor blog.

BlogsBlogs
……Types of blogs in languageTypes of blogs in language
teachingteaching
 The Learner BlogThe Learner Blog is theis the
third type of blog and itthird type of blog and it
requires more time andrequires more time and
effort from the teacher toeffort from the teacher to
both set up and moderate,both set up and moderate,
but is probably the mostbut is probably the most
rewarding. It is the student'srewarding. It is the student's
own personal online space.own personal online space.
Students can be encouragedStudents can be encouraged
to write frequently aboutto write frequently about
what interests them, and canwhat interests them, and can
post comments on otherpost comments on other
students' blogs.students' blogs.

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Other educational uses in ELTOther educational uses in ELT
 Course syllabusCourse syllabus
 Professional Web siteProfessional Web site
 ICT trainingsICT trainings
 Free publishingFree publishing

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Why blogging?Why blogging?
Graham Stanley (2005) stands several reasons for using blogs:
1. To provide extra reading practice for students.
This reading can be produced by the teacher, other students in the same class, or, in
the case of comments posted to a blog, by people from all over the world.
2. As online student learner journals that can be read by their peers.
The value of using learner journals has been well documented. Usually they are
private channels between teacher and student. Using a blog as a learner journal can
increase the audience.
3. To guide students to online resources appropriate for their level.
The Internet has a bewildering array of resources that are potentially useful for
your students. The problem is finding and directing your learners to them. For this
reason, you can use your tutor blog as a portal for your learners.
4. To increase the sense of community in a class.
A class blog can help foster a feeling of community between the members of a
class, especially if learners are sharing information about themselves and their
interests, and are responding to what other students are writing.

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4.4. To encourage shy students toTo encourage shy students to
participate.participate.
There is evidence to suggest thatThere is evidence to suggest that
students who are quiet in class canstudents who are quiet in class can
find their voice when given thefind their voice when given the
opportunity to express themselves inopportunity to express themselves in
a blog.a blog.
5.5. To stimulate out-of-class discussion.To stimulate out-of-class discussion.
A blog can be an ideal space for pre-A blog can be an ideal space for pre-
class or post-class discussion. Andclass or post-class discussion. And
what students write about in the blogwhat students write about in the blog
can also be used to promotecan also be used to promote
discussion in class.discussion in class.

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7.7. To encourage a process-writing approach.To encourage a process-writing approach.
Because students are writing for publication, they are usually moreBecause students are writing for publication, they are usually more
concerned about getting things right, and usually understand the value ofconcerned about getting things right, and usually understand the value of
rewriting more than if the only audience for their written work is therewriting more than if the only audience for their written work is the
teacher.teacher.
8.8. As an online portfolio of student written work.As an online portfolio of student written work.
There is much to be gained from students keeping a portfolio of theirThere is much to be gained from students keeping a portfolio of their
work. One example is the ease at which learners can return to previouswork. One example is the ease at which learners can return to previous
written work and evaluate the progress they have made during a course.written work and evaluate the progress they have made during a course.
9.9. To help build a closer relationship between students in large classes.To help build a closer relationship between students in large classes.
Sometimes students in large classes can spend all year studying with theSometimes students in large classes can spend all year studying with the
same people without getting to know them well. A blog is another toolsame people without getting to know them well. A blog is another tool
that can help bring students together.that can help bring students together.

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Some blog samplesSome blog samples
Tutor blog:Tutor blog:
 Beyond the English Classroom WallsBeyond the English Classroom Walls
http://beyondtheenglishclassroomwalls.blogspot.comhttp://beyondtheenglishclassroomwalls.blogspot.com
 Nahir’s ICT training blogNahir’s ICT training blog http://ourthoughts-ipc.blogspot.com/http://ourthoughts-ipc.blogspot.com/
Class blogs:Class blogs:
 Bee OnlineBee Online http://beeonline.blogspot.comhttp://beeonline.blogspot.com
 Bee Online 2Bee Online 2 http://beeonline2.blogspot.com/http://beeonline2.blogspot.com/
 Leonela’s blogLeonela’s blog http://ictleonela.blogspot.com/http://ictleonela.blogspot.com/
Free publishing:Free publishing:

http://interculturalvoices.wordpress.com/http://interculturalvoices.wordpress.com/

BlogsBlogs
Some popular blog hosting sitesSome popular blog hosting sites
 WordpressWordpress
 BloggerBlogger
 EdublogsEdublogs
 TumblrTumblr
 SquareSpaceSquareSpace
 LiveJournalLiveJournal
 TypepadTypepad
 WeeblyWeebly

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BloggerBlogger

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Sample of a Blog (Blogger)Sample of a Blog (Blogger)

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Gadgets /WidgetsGadgets /Widgets

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TaggingTagging
 Tags are keywordsTags are keywords
used to describe aused to describe a
piece of informationpiece of information
or data (web page, aor data (web page, a
digital photo, ordigital photo, or
digital document).digital document).
They are categoriesThey are categories
that ease the searchthat ease the search
work and connectwork and connect
knowledge.knowledge.

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SyndicationSyndication
RSS stands for ReallyRSS stands for Really
Simple Syndication. ItSimple Syndication. It
is the way to facilitateis the way to facilitate
the exchange ofthe exchange of
information on the webinformation on the web
back and forth.back and forth.
To start crossing theTo start crossing the
information, we need ainformation, we need a
feed aggregator: Atom,feed aggregator: Atom,
for instance.for instance.

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Now, let’s blog!Now, let’s blog!

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What to blog about?What to blog about?
Think!Think!

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Before creating a blog consider…Before creating a blog consider…
 The settingThe setting
 The school/institution policiesThe school/institution policies
 ParentsParents
 Students expectationsStudents expectations
 Tech supportTech support
 TrainingTraining
 NetiquettesNetiquettes
 The audienceThe audience
 The teacher, the students, the communityThe teacher, the students, the community
 Personal or a group Blog/WikiPersonal or a group Blog/Wiki
 Private, public, customize postsPrivate, public, customize posts
 Who moderates: writer, contributorsWho moderates: writer, contributors

BlogsBlogs
Before creating a blog consider…Before creating a blog consider…
 The objectivesThe objectives
 ClassClass
 CourseCourse
 SchoolSchool
 The contentThe content
 ClassClass
 Extra-class activitiesExtra-class activities
 FreeFree

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Enjoy blogging! Be creative!Enjoy blogging! Be creative!
 Choose templatesChoose templates
 Change colors and fontsChange colors and fonts
 Add widgetsAdd widgets
 Post your first messagePost your first message
 Leave comments onLeave comments on
your peers’ blogs.your peers’ blogs.
 Edit entriesEdit entries

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ReferencesReferences
 Campbell, AP (2003). 'Weblogs for use with ESL classes' [Online] Available at
http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Campbell-Weblogs.html
 Stanley, G. (2005). Blogging for ELT. Teaching English -British Council article.
[Online] http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/articles/blogging-elt
 Webopedia. The History og Blogging.
http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/history_of_blogging.asp
Further reading:
 Izquierdo, E. (2008). Blogs and Wikis: Tools for Collaborative Work. VenTesol
Region 1.
 Stanley, G. (2005). Blog-efl. Graham Stanley’s blog with information and comments
for teachers of EFL/ESL interested in using blogs. [Online] Available at
http://blog-efl.blogspot.com
Images:
 http://trevorcook.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/093004borgman600x403.jpg
 http://spinachflame.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/greatestbloggerborder.jpg
 http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/mbc/lowres/mbcn52l.jpg
 http://rentoid.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/i_love_blogging.jpg

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ReferencesReferences
 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3655/3648205233_b595687f49.jpg
 http://www.dailyblogtips.com/wp-content/uploads/blogs.jpg
 http://paintermommy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/royston_bloglink.jpg
 http://www.akmalwardak.com/wp-
content/uploads/2009/05/070618_blog_your_human.gif
 http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SVugPWIpLtw/Sr9-MsuvAUI/AAAAAAAAA2g/z6im-
Lc0fv4/s400/blog-cartoon-357x350.jpg
 http://edutech.csun.edu/aln/files/UserImages/blogging.JPG
 http://bellurramki18.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/rwbblogcartoon61151008.jpg
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI

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Thank you very much!Thank you very much!
Enjoy blogging!Enjoy blogging!

Blogging

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