To BLOG or Not to BLOG? Created by Jan North Mansfield ISD (used by permission)

What do you know about Blogs? Turn to a neighbor on your left side. Tell them one thing you know about Blogs.

What is a Blog? Short for weblog Online journals or newsletters A Web site that contains dated entries in reverse chronological order (most recent first) about a particular topic. Quick way to publish news and happenings A diary or history A collaborative space either stand alone or within a website that visitors can post comments, link to, add to, or just read on a weekly, daily, hourly basis A web-based publication of periodic articles (posts), usually presented in reverse chronological order. It is an online journal with one or many contributors.

What is a Blog? Personal On the Web Published Part of communities

Interesting Facts: The State of Blogging Launching a website or a blog takes less than 5 minutes 5% of all Internet users get news and other information from content-rich blogs and content-rich websites 3 in 5 teens have their own blog Older school-age girls are most likely to keep up with a blog Teens “wear their hearts” on their blog Many schools are banning blogs How 8 th graders view blogging What do you think about this?

What do you want to learn about Blogs? Talk with the neighbor on your right. Tell them one thing you would like to learn about Blogs.

The evolution of a Blog Then Online publication of personal diaries Now Respected vehicle for editorials on specific topics

Anatomy of a Blog Date header Title Time stamp/permalink Post Author nickname Category Comments Trackback Work with a partner to find each part of a Blog Click here to visit a Blog

What can Blogs be used for in Education? Information/Communication Tools Online Filing Cabinets Collaborative Tools Literature Circles Online Discussions Professional Development Writing Tools

Other examples The Daily Blog The Race Report Blog Away on a Paperless Journal Computer Art Blog Mrs. Wright’s Class Library Blog The FordLog

A few I’m playing with… By the way… Once upon a BlogOnce upon a Blog… K8 Campus Technologists Becoming an Educational Administrator

Benefits of Using Blogs in Education Offer potential for collaboration Ability to publish anywhere, anytime No need to learn html, ftp, etc. Free tools available Different from a regular webpage or discussion forum Promotes reflection Offer opportunity for feedback & scaffolding of new ideas Promote interactivity, opportunities for active learning Build student/teacher relationships Space for students to publish their thoughts & understanding, reflect, revise

Benefits…. Helps students become subject-matter experts Increases student interest and ownership in learning Gives students legitimate chances to participate Provides opportunities for diverse perspectives Increase higher-order thinking skills Students have full control and ownership of online content Links can help support information/learning Supports student knowledge acquisition Encourages guided discovery and knowledge construction

What might the dangers or pitfalls be in using Blogs? What would you imagine the dangers teens could be exposed to by using blogs? What pitfalls might there be in using them in the classroom? Example Rubric

Keeping Students Safe Selection Age Privacy Support Other services Costs Blog Website Hide account/login details Topics Password Protection Avatars/Photos Profile/Private

Keeping Students Safe When you Blog Personal info Correct info Be nice to people Other Hide from Search Engines Look at Blog stats

To Blog or Not to Blog? Before you decide to start Blogging Visit different weblog sites Look for features you like Identify management strategies for pitfalls & problems Blogger’s Contract Model Blogging for your students

Your Content What area in your content could benefit by the use of a Blog? Choose a lesson in which you would like to use a blog. Identify the TEKS and learning objectives for this lesson. Now we will create a blog to use with this lesson.

Creating a Blog We will be using eBloggy to practice creating a BlogeBloggy There are many other sites you might want to use; this blog allows us to delete the blog if we should decide not to keep it. We will finalize our learning with the questions at

Blog Resources My FAVORITE right now… Blogger.com Blogdrive Unbelievably GREAT resourceUnbelievably GREAT resource! (found at last minute) Blogging_Can_Enhance.rtf Blogging_Can_Enhance.rtf What is a Blog?

Resources 7 Things You Should Know About Blogs in 5 Teens Have Own Blogs Teens Wear Their Hearts on Their Sleeves teen-blogs_x.htm What is a Weblog? Communities Communities What are Blogs? Communities Communities

Resources Blog on! issue=jun_05 issue=jun_05 Alan November-How To Guide o_blogs.pdf o_blogs.pdf Why Do We Have to Learn to Blog? learn-how-to-blog/ learn-how-to-blog/ How to Blog Safely Blogging is Elementary My Dear Watson! The Secret Life of Bees

Resources Anatomy of a Blog Blog Idea File ed.com/stories/storyReader$100 ed.com/stories/storyReader$100 A Webquest on Blogs Another favorite – CogDogBlog CogDogBlog GREAT! Blog Glossary Keeping Children Safe While Using Blogs safe-using-blogs.asp safe-using-blogs.asp How Eighth Graders View Blogging ives/2005/6/10 ives/2005/6/10

Resources Blog – Wikipedia