1. Blogging in the Classroom
Amir M. Villas
Lubang Vocational High School
Lubang, Occidental Mindoro

2. Objectives:
At the end of the training session the trainees should be able to:
Acquire basic knowledge and skills in blogging
Recognize the importance and advantages and disadvantages of blogging
Create, customize, post and share their own blogs

4. Terminology
Blog (noun) - a journal or diary that is on the Internet Andrew Sullivan has the most popular blog on the Internet. Blogger (noun) - a person who keeps a blog Bloggers are revolutionizing the way news is shared.

5. Terminology
Blog (verb) - to write a blog I am going to blog before breakfast this morning. Blogging (verb) - the action of writing a blog Blogging is my way of sharing my passions with the world.

6. Components Advertisement Title Date Text Post Title
Posting Information
Previous Posts
Archives
Comments

7. Reasons Why Educators Should Use Blogs
For Students
relate to the lesson.
develop and hone their writing skills.
serve as online student journals for a variety of classroom modules.
increase the sense of community and camaraderie among classmates.
help students understand appropriate online sources

8. Reasons Why Educators Should Use Blogs
For Students
foster collaboration and team-building skills.
help promote and develop reading and writing skills.
provide another outlet for different styles of learning.
encourage discussion anytime
engage students by presenting material in a way that is familiar and comfortable.

9. Reasons Why Educators Should Use Blogs
For Students
provide a virtual announcement board
Serve as a communication device
Serve as an outlet for students who are shy.

10. Reasons Why Educators Should Use Blogs
For Educators
build professional learning network
Serve as a forum to vet classroom ideas
highlight valuable resources that educators can use both in and out of the classroom.
make teachers aware of current events and trends that are important to students
initiate discussions that are meaningful and relevant to them.

11. Reasons Why Educators Should Use Blogs
For Educators
Just like students, educators can use blogs to improve their writing skills.
Blogs can be used to facilitate classroom discussion.
Blogs give teachers more time. Sometimes, not everything can be fit into the lesson plan, and homework can’t stand in for instruction. Teachers can use blogs to post further instruction, additional supporting materials, and more.

12. Blogs in Education Options for instructors using blogs include:
Content-related blogs as a professional practice
Networking and personal knowledge sharing
Instructional tips for students
Course announcements and readings
Annotated links
Knowledge management

13. Blogs in Education
Options for students using blogs in courses include:
Reflective or writing journals
Knowledge management
Assignment submission and review
Dialogue for group work
E-portfolios
Share course-related resources

14. Features of a Blog-Based Class
Before choosing a blogging service, one must know their requirements. Following is a list of features which could make a successful blog-based class:

15. Features of a Blog-Based Class
It must be possible for a teacher to create as many “class blogs” as deemed necessary to organize class materials. For example, it must be possible for a teacher to create a blog for class notes and another for posting group feedback.

16. Features of a Blog-Based Class
The class blogs must be viewable by all students. Furthermore, only the teacher should have administrative privileges to modify these blogs.

17. Features of a Blog-Based Class
All students must have their own individual blog for posting assignments. Only two people, the teacher and the student, can view the student’s individual blog. Students can edit their own writing and the teacher can add comments to the student’s submissions. However, students cannot edit the teacher’s comments.

18. Features of a Blog-Based Class
For the sake of organization, it must be simple for the teacher to change between students’ blogs.
The blogging service must provide server space on the Internet to store class and student blogs.
The blogging service must be free.

19. Advantages of Blogs to Teachers
Web based authoring – like Blackboard
Design is totally separate from content
Search, comment system and rich archiving tools are built in
Content is stored in a database allowing for robust data-driven operations

20. Advantages of Blogs to Students:
Students have access to instructor’s notes on the Internet. Students also have the option of previewing the class material before class and reviewing the material after class.
Because students are connected to the Internet, they have access to different dictionaries and bibliographies.

21. Advantages of Blogs to Students:
Because the class material is organized into sections, students can easily find information.
Students can read comments for the class as a whole and comments directed at them individually. This maximizes feedback and contact with the teacher.
Students can observe their progress over time.

22. Disadvantages of Blogs:
Blogs generally have no assessment or polling features.
Although they often have a comment feature, blogs are not message or discussion boards.
In general, blogs have limited community features such as those found in Blackboard.

23. Disadvantages of Blogs:
Most people don’t have very much to say that’s interesting, and/or are unable to write down their ideas in a compelling and clear manner.
Blogs are easy to start but hard to maintain. Writing coherently is one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks. As a result, many blogs are not updated, thus damaging rather than enhancing the reputation of the organization.

24. Blog Platforms

25. How to Start a Blog on Wordpress.com

26. Before you start…
Why WordPress.com? WordPress.com is a free blogging platform where you can submit your articles and posts for public. However porn, gambling and pharmacy related topics are not allowed.

27. Before you start… Email address Username Password Blog Address
Ex. amvilteachers.wordpress.com
lubangvhs.wordpress.com

28. What do I have to do to get started?
The great thing is that it’s not a rocket science at all. All you need to do is sign up (like you do on any other website)

29. What do I have to do to get started?
Once you have completed the basics steps above (including your blog name), you need to click on the “Create Blog” button. There is no need to use the paid version since it’s quite expensive and does not give you much advantages.

30. What do I have to do to get started?
Verify your address. Simply head over to your mail and hit the “verify” link (it should appear in few seconds).

31. What do I have to do to get started?
Once you have done that, feel free to log in from (This is the log-in screen you should see)

32. Customizing your blog and creating your first post
Before you start blogging, you might want to change the theme – the outlook of your blog. You can do it by clicking on “Appearance” -> “Themes” (at the left sidebar).

33. Creating new posts and pages
To create new posts and pages you have to use the dashboard options.
For posting use “Post” -> “New” and for pages use “Page” -> “Add new”.
In short, “pages” are usually your Contact or About me location while posts are your blogging posts.

34. Creating new blogposts
Click the dashboard
Click on Post
Select Add New
Write your first blog
Click Publish

35. Configure Basic Site Settings
Click the dashboard
Go to Settings
Select General
Enter your site’s title and new tagline

36. Here’s how the site title and tagline look on the site

37. Thoughts to bring home

38. According to one of the Regional Directors, there are 3Ds to success:

39. 1st Dare to Dream
(big dreams for you and your people, but NOT daydreaming)

40. 2nd Dare to Do the Best
(do your work well and with passion)

41. 3rd Dare to make a difference
(in the life of our colleagues/teachers/students and the community/people)