Blogs in Education “The Computer as an Educational Tool: Productivity and Problem Solving” ©Richard C. Forcier and Don E. Descy “The Computer as an Educational Tool: Productivity and Problem Solving” ©Richard C. Forcier and Don E. Descy

What is a blog?  Blogs are personal journals made up of chronological entries, not unlike a paper diary.

Blog Lingo  Blogosphere  Blogger  Blogging  Multi-Blog  Weblog  Blogosphere  Blogger  Blogging  Multi-Blog  Weblog

Blog Statistics  51.5 percent of all blogs are developed and maintained by ages 13–19.  40.4 percent of blog authors are under 20 years old.  51.5 percent of all blogs are developed and maintained by ages 13–19.  40.4 percent of blog authors are under 20 years old.

Features  Instant publishing of text/graphics to the Web  Students can provide comments/feedback  Archive past blogs by date  Instant publishing of text/graphics to the Web  Students can provide comments/feedback  Archive past blogs by date

Ways to Use  Update students  Online mentoring  Conduct discussions outside classroom  Student-to-student contact  Update students  Online mentoring  Conduct discussions outside classroom  Student-to-student contact

Benefits  Critical thinking/creative risks  Acquire scholarly and professional skills  Creates a learning community  Thinking outside classroom  Every student has a voice.  Critical thinking/creative risks  Acquire scholarly and professional skills  Creates a learning community  Thinking outside classroom  Every student has a voice.

Benefits (Continued)  Easy to use  Anywhere, anytime access  Effective forum for discussion  Easy to use  Anywhere, anytime access  Effective forum for discussion

Risks  Schools have guidelines and AUP’s regarding the Internet.  Parental permission  Viewed publicly  Opinion-based  Schools have guidelines and AUP’s regarding the Internet.  Parental permission  Viewed publicly  Opinion-based

Preparing Students  Determine school’s AUP  Inform parents  Teach students appropriate behavior  Review policies  Teach nonposting rules  Set clear consequences  Determine school’s AUP  Inform parents  Teach students appropriate behavior  Review policies  Teach nonposting rules  Set clear consequences

Setting up a Weblog    Example Example    Example Example