Blogs What are they? What are they used for?

What is a Blog? Weblog: a personal Web site that provides updated headlines and news articles of other sites that are of interest to the user, also may include journal entries, commentaries and recommendations compiled by the user; also written web log, Weblog; also called blog Weblog: a personal Web site that provides updated headlines and news articles of other sites that are of interest to the user, also may include journal entries, commentaries and recommendations compiled by the user; also written web log, Weblog; also called blog Blog: an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page Blog: an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page

In the beginning… Before there were blogs, there were message boards and message board communities Before there were blogs, there were message boards and message board communities The term “weblog” was created in 1997 by Jorn Barger and was shortened to “blog” in April 1999 by Peter Merholz The term “weblog” was created in 1997 by Jorn Barger and was shortened to “blog” in April 1999 by Peter Merholz Merholz coined the term by using the phrase “e blog” and posting it in the sidebar of his weblog Merholz coined the term by using the phrase “e blog” and posting it in the sidebar of his weblog Usage spread through most of 1999, but at a very slow rate Usage spread through most of 1999, but at a very slow rate Dave Winer, one of the lead contributors to the formation of XML dialects and founder of one of the first weblogs, began creating better tools for blogging Dave Winer, one of the lead contributors to the formation of XML dialects and founder of one of the first weblogs, began creating better tools for blogging

Blog Boom Blogging exploded after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks Blogging exploded after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks Many blogs showed support of the victims and their families, patriotism, displayed personal commentaries on the events, and critiques on media coverage Many blogs showed support of the victims and their families, patriotism, displayed personal commentaries on the events, and critiques on media coverage Readership boomed because people were searching for ways to gain more information and also seek out an understanding of the events Readership boomed because people were searching for ways to gain more information and also seek out an understanding of the events By 2002 many of the same blogs that had been written after 9/11 had turned to support our troops going to Iraq By 2002 many of the same blogs that had been written after 9/11 had turned to support our troops going to Iraq People who were blogging about the war in Iraq came to be known as “war bloggers” People who were blogging about the war in Iraq came to be known as “war bloggers” “War Blogger” is now a term to also describe soldiers who blog “War Blogger” is now a term to also describe soldiers who blog

Blog Stats Article written by Tom Regan of The Christian Science Monitor called Blogs now have a world of influence Article written by Tom Regan of The Christian Science Monitor called Blogs now have a world of influence Read a report by the founder of Technorati, David Sifry Read a report by the founder of Technorati, David Sifry A new blog is created every second. A new blog is created every second. 37 million blogs as of May 1, million blogs as of May 1, million as of May 14, million as of May 14,2006 Blogosphere doubles in size every 6 months Blogosphere doubles in size every 6 months 60 times bigger than it was 3 years ago 60 times bigger than it was 3 years ago 1.2 million postings each day (50,000 per hour) 1.2 million postings each day (50,000 per hour) Japanese is the most popular language of the blogosphere, not English Japanese is the most popular language of the blogosphere, not English 37% Japanese, 31% English, 15% is Chinese 37% Japanese, 31% English, 15% is Chinese

How are blogs used? Personal Diary/Journal Personal Diary/Journal News Source News Source Business Business Learning/Teaching Tools For Higher Education Learning/Teaching Tools For Higher Education

Personal Diary/Journal Reasons to write: Keep a timeline of events Keep a timeline of events Voice thoughts, opinions and feelings and certain subjects Voice thoughts, opinions and feelings and certain subjects Keep a record of their life Keep a record of their life Reasons to read: Seek information on other people’s thoughts, feelings, and opinions on a subject Seek information on other people’s thoughts, feelings, and opinions on a subject Stay in touch with family and/or friends Stay in touch with family and/or friends Curiosity Curiosity

News Source Reasons people read blogs as news sources: Bloggers discuss issues many journalists avoid Bloggers discuss issues many journalists avoid Question traditional media Question traditional media More in depth “coverage” or more well researched More in depth “coverage” or more well researched Interactive; able to establish two-way communication Interactive; able to establish two-way communication Are not afraid to call people on a certain bias, errors in text, logic, and information Are not afraid to call people on a certain bias, errors in text, logic, and information Bloggers hold media accountable (CBS Document Scandal) as well as politicians and other important figures (Trent Lott) Bloggers hold media accountable (CBS Document Scandal) as well as politicians and other important figures (Trent Lott)Problems: Sources are not always credible Sources are not always credible Blurs the line between who is defined as an actual journalist and who is not Blurs the line between who is defined as an actual journalist and who is not Not always objective or playing the “devil’s advocate” role Not always objective or playing the “devil’s advocate” role “Merely a modern version of the soapbox speaker in the town square.” – Jerry Gillooly “Merely a modern version of the soapbox speaker in the town square.” – Jerry Gillooly

Business Ways blogs are used in business: Consumer reviews/reports about products as well as businesses Consumer reviews/reports about products as well as businesses Buyer beware Buyer beware Release new ideas Release new ideas Market products Market products Write daily/weekly reports within the company Write daily/weekly reports within the company Communication between departments Communication between departmentsProblems: Lack of good communication skills through blogs Lack of good communication skills through blogs Access to blogs Access to blogs Credibility, credibility, credibility! Credibility, credibility, credibility!

Higher Education How to use blogs for learning and teaching purposes and why: Use blogs to facilitate discussion Use blogs to facilitate discussion Students at Harvard University were asked to keep blogs and respond to topics in class through their blogs, and encouraged to comment on others Students at Harvard University were asked to keep blogs and respond to topics in class through their blogs, and encouraged to comment on others Helped students who were more shy about speaking up in class voice their thoughts and opinions Helped students who were more shy about speaking up in class voice their thoughts and opinions Establish critical thinking skills Establish critical thinking skills Instructors had students keep blogs in order to give them a chance to think about a subject and then be able to write freely about it in hopes that it would encourage them to think more critically about the subject Instructors had students keep blogs in order to give them a chance to think about a subject and then be able to write freely about it in hopes that it would encourage them to think more critically about the subject Reading other blogs helped to give students insight on other students’ thoughts, leading them to think more critically about their own thoughts Reading other blogs helped to give students insight on other students’ thoughts, leading them to think more critically about their own thoughts

The Future of Blogging Jump from use in higher education down to elementary education Jump from use in higher education down to elementary education Use of blogs will help children develop critical thinking skills rather than enhance already learned skills in higher education Use of blogs will help children develop critical thinking skills rather than enhance already learned skills in higher education Will help to teach children to read, understand, and analyze the thoughts and opinions of their peers while also stimulating more critical thought on both the subject matter and their own thoughts and opinions Will help to teach children to read, understand, and analyze the thoughts and opinions of their peers while also stimulating more critical thought on both the subject matter and their own thoughts and opinions Will not replace traditional news sources Will not replace traditional news sources Is appearing more in business and will continue to do so Is appearing more in business and will continue to do so The number of personal blogs will continue to rise The number of personal blogs will continue to rise

Conclusion Blogs have rapidly become a major media source, whether it be as a news source, educational tool, business strategy, or as a personal diary. Blogs have rapidly become a major media source, whether it be as a news source, educational tool, business strategy, or as a personal diary. The blogosphere will continue to expand, as will the readership. The blogosphere will continue to expand, as will the readership. Although blogs are often considered competition for journalists, journalists and other traditional media sources will continue to use blogs as sources of their own. Although blogs are often considered competition for journalists, journalists and other traditional media sources will continue to use blogs as sources of their own. It is in the best interests of businesses that they look into using company blogs in order to market and inform about products and services, or even offer information to the public about the company itself. It is in the best interests of businesses that they look into using company blogs in order to market and inform about products and services, or even offer information to the public about the company itself. The use of blogs in education is on the rise, and has become a very useful tool to facilitate discussion as well as teach and enhance critical thinking skills. It also improves on students’ overall communication skills, and helps familiarize them with a rapidly growing medium. The use of blogs in education is on the rise, and has become a very useful tool to facilitate discussion as well as teach and enhance critical thinking skills. It also improves on students’ overall communication skills, and helps familiarize them with a rapidly growing medium.