Blogging The best way to be ‘you’ and share it with others Blog as a communicative tool Muhammad Iqbal Muhammad University of Majmaah College of Education, English Department

Blogs Agenda: Define what a blog is Define what a blog is Know its different educational uses Know its different educational uses Discuss about the potential of blogging in the ELT field and as a tool for professional development Discuss about the potential of blogging in the ELT field and as a tool for professional development Know different blog hosts Know different blog hosts See some blog samples See some blog samples Create your own blog in Blogger Create 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 entries Select templates, post messages and edit entries Comment on other blogs Comment on other blogs Explore options for author’s management Explore options for author’s management Invite colleagues and students to visit your blog. Invite colleagues and students to visit your blog. Homework: Blog design, entries, widgets, posts, comments, etc Homework: Blog design, entries, widgets, posts, comments, etc Blog as a communicative tool

What is a blog? Before defining what a blog is, please, watch this video: Blog as a communicative tool

A blog is… “… a Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual or company. Blogs are typically written in chronological order and displayed in reverse chronological order to the reader… The word blog itself is a play on the words Weblog (Web + log), as most blogs will be displayed in a journal or log entry format, where most are updated daily or more frequently than most Web sites would be….” (Webopedia, 2009) Blog as a communicative tool

To what extend can we use blogs? Blog as a communicative tool

Types of blogs in language teaching Aaron Campbell (2003) has outlined three types of blogs for use with language classes: Aaron Campbell (2003) has outlined three types of blogs for use with language classes: The Tutor Blog is run by the teacher of a class. The content of this type of blog can be limited to syllabus, course information, homework, assignments, etc. Or the teacher may choose to write about his or her life, sharing reflections about the local culture, target culture and language to stimulate online and in-class discussion. In this type of blog, students are normally restricted to being able to write comments to the teacher's posts. The Tutor Blog is run by the teacher of a class. The content of this type of blog can be limited to syllabus, course information, homework, assignments, etc. Or the teacher may choose to write about his or her life, sharing reflections about the local culture, target culture and language to stimulate online and in-class discussion. In this type of blog, students are normally restricted to being able to write comments to the teacher's posts. Blog as a communicative tool

…Types of blogs in language teaching The Class Blog is a shared space, with teacher and students being able to write to the main area. It is best used as a collaborative discussion space, an extra- curricular extension of the classroom. Students can be encouraged to reflect in more depth, in writing, on themes touched upon in class. Students are given a greater sense of freedom and involvement than with the tutor blog. The Class Blog is a shared space, with teacher and students being able to write to the main area. It is best used as a collaborative discussion space, an extra- curricular extension of the classroom. Students can be encouraged to reflect in more depth, in writing, on themes touched upon in class. Students are given a greater sense of freedom and involvement than with the tutor blog. Blog as a communicative tool

…Types of blogs in language teaching The Learner Blog is the third type of blog and it requires more time and effort from the teacher to both set up and moderate, but is probably the most rewarding. It is the student's own personal online space. Students can be encouraged to write frequently about what interests them, and can post comments on other students' blogs. The Learner Blog is the third type of blog and it requires more time and effort from the teacher to both set up and moderate, but is probably the most rewarding. It is the student's own personal online space. Students can be encouraged to write frequently about what interests them, and can post comments on other students' blogs. Blog as a communicative tool

Why blogging? Graham Stanley (2005) stands several reasons for using blogs: 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 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 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 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. Blog as a communicative tool

Why blogging? 4. To encourage shy students to participate. There is evidence to suggest that students who are quiet in class can find their voice when given the opportunity to express themselves in a blog. 5. To stimulate out-of-class discussion. A blog can be an ideal space for pre- class or post-class discussion. And what students write about in the blog can also be used to promote discussion in class. Blog as a communicative tool

Why blogging? 7. To encourage a process-writing approach. Because students are writing for publication, they are usually more concerned about getting things right, and usually understand the value of rewriting more than if the only audience for their written work is the teacher. 8. As an online portfolio of student written work. There is much to be gained from students keeping a portfolio of their work. One example is the ease at which learners can return to previous written work and evaluate the progress they have made during a course. 9. To help build a closer relationship between students in large classes. Sometimes students in large classes can spend all year studying with the same people without getting to know them well. A blog is another tool that can help bring students together. Blog as a communicative tool

Some blog samples Tutor blog: Beyond the English Classroom Walls Beyond the English Classroom Walls Nahir’s ICT training blog Nahir’s ICT training blog Class blogs: Bee Online Bee Online Bee Online 2 Bee Online 2 Leonela’s blog Leonela’s blog Free publishing: Blog as a communicative tool

Some popular blog hosting sites Wordpress Wordpress Wordpress Blogger Blogger Blogger Edublogs Edublogs Edublogs Tumblr Tumblr Tumblr SquareSpace SquareSpace SquareSpace LiveJournal LiveJournal LiveJournal Typepad Typepad Typepad Weebly Weebly Weebly Blog as a communicative tool

Blogger

Now, let’s blog! Blog as a communicative tool

What to blog about? Think! Blog as a communicative tool

Before creating a blog consider… The setting The setting  The school/institution policies  Parents  Students expectations  Tech support  Training  Netiquettes The audience The audience  The teacher, the students, the community  Personal or a group Blog/Wiki  Private, public, customize posts  Who moderates: writer, contributors Blog as a communicative tool

Before creating a blog consider… The objectives The objectives  Class  Course  School The content The content  Class  Extra-class activities  Free Blog as a communicative tool

Enjoy blogging! Be creative! Choose templates Choose templates Change colors and fonts Change colors and fonts Add widgets Add widgets Post your first message Post your first message Leave comments on your peers’ blogs. Leave comments on your peers’ blogs. Edit entries Edit entries Blog as a communicative tool

References Campbell, AP (2003). 'Weblogs for use with ESL classes' [Online] Available at Stanley, G. (2005). Blogging for ELT. Teaching English -British Council article. [Online] Webopedia. The History og Blogging. 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 efl.blogspot.comhttp://blog- efl.blogspot.com Images: Blog as a communicative tool

References content/uploads/2009/05/070618_blog_your_human.gif content/uploads/2009/05/070618_blog_your_human.gif Lc0fv4/s400/blog-cartoon-357x350.jpg Lc0fv4/s400/blog-cartoon-357x350.jpg Video: Izquierdo, E (2014) Web 2.0 tools: Blogs

Thank you very much! Enjoy blogging! Blog as communicative tool