Here are some key steps to add blogging as a student activity: 1. Decide on the blogging platform - some good free options are Blogger, WordPress, Edublogs 2. Determine the purpose and scope of the blogs - e.g. reflecting on class lessons, showcasing projects, having students research topics. 3. Set up the appropriate blog structures - individual blogs, group blogs, or a class blog 4. Establish guidelines and expectations for student blog posts - e.g. length, frequency of updates, commenting on peers' work. 5. Train students on basic blogging skills like using the platform, writing for the web effectively, and online safety/et

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. Internet Usage and Population Statistics
For Trinidad and Tobago
Year Users Population % Pen
2000 100,000 1,262,366 7.9%
2006 160,000 1,320,363 12.1%
2008 212,800 1,231,323 17.3%
2009* 225,000 1,047,366 21.5%
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
* Nielson Online, ITU, and other reliable resources
http://www.internetworldstats.com/car/tt.htm

5. # Country Pop 2008 Est Users Latest % Population
1 China 1,330,044,605 298,000,000 22.4%
(18.7%)*
2 United States 304,228,419 227,190,989 74.7%
(14.2%)*
3 Japan 127,288,419 94,000,000 73.8%
(5.9%)*
4 India 1,147,995,898 81,000,000 7.1%
(5.1%)*
5 Brazil 196,342,587 67,510,400 34.4%
(4.2%)*
Internet World Stats © 2009, Miniwatts Marketing Group
* % of World Users
http://www.internetworldstats.com/top20.htm

6. http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats11.htm

7. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/int_bro_sub-internet-broadband-subscribers

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

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

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

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

12.  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

14. “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

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

16.  Step 1
Begin
Blogging
Myself

17.  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.

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

19.  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)

20.  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.”

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

24.  Step 2
Add
Blogging
into my
ministry

25. 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

26.  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

27.  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?

28.  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?

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

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

32. 6. Announce the week‟s lesson and invite
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

33.  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.

34.  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.

35.  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

36.  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.

37.  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.

38.  Step 2
Add
Blogging as
a Student
Activity

41.  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

46.  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?

47.  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.

48.  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)

49.  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

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

70. http://mobil33t.com/dogood/

72.  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

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