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

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

3. 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.

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

5. 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?

6. 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.

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

8. 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

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

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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 http://muchadoabout.ebloggy.com/ http://muchadoabout.ebloggy.com/

20. Blog Resources My FAVORITE right now… http://classblogmeister.com/index.phpFAVORITE http://classblogmeister.com/index.php http://boastology.com/pages/features.php Blogger.com http://www.haranbanjo.com/kidzlog/ Blogdrive Unbelievably GREAT resourceUnbelievably GREAT resource! (found at last minute) http://www.laptopinstitute.com/Presentations/Gail_Braddock- Blogging_Can_Enhance.rtf http://www.laptopinstitute.com/Presentations/Gail_Braddock- Blogging_Can_Enhance.rtf What is a Blog? http://innovatelearning.org/workshops/blogs/ http://innovatelearning.org/workshops/blogs/

21. Resources 7 Things You Should Know About Blogs http://www.educause.edu/LibraryDetailPage/666?ID=ELI7006 http://www.educause.edu/LibraryDetailPage/666?ID=ELI7006 3 in 5 Teens Have Own Blogs http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1283897.cms http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1283897.cms Teens Wear Their Hearts on Their Sleeves http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-10-30- teen-blogs_x.htm What is a Weblog? http://oldweblogscomblog.scripting.com/personalWebPublishing Communities http://oldweblogscomblog.scripting.com/personalWebPublishing Communities What are Blogs? http://oldweblogscomblog.scripting.com/personalWebPublishing Communities http://oldweblogscomblog.scripting.com/personalWebPublishing Communities

22. Resources Blog on! http://www.edutopia.org/magazine/ed1article.php?id=Art_1299& issue=jun_05 http://www.edutopia.org/magazine/ed1article.php?id=Art_1299& issue=jun_05 Alan November-How To Guide http://www.novemberlearning.com/Portals/0/Educators_Guide_t o_blogs.pdf http://www.novemberlearning.com/Portals/0/Educators_Guide_t o_blogs.pdf Why Do We Have to Learn to Blog? http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/2005/11/01/why-do-we-have-to- learn-how-to-blog/ http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/2005/11/01/why-do-we-have-to- learn-how-to-blog/ How to Blog Safely http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Anonymity/blog-anonymously.phphttp://www.eff.org/Privacy/Anonymity/blog-anonymously.php Blogging is Elementary My Dear Watson! http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech217.shtml http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech217.shtml The Secret Life of Bees http://www.people.virginia.edu/%7Esbk8q/31232k.pdf http://www.people.virginia.edu/%7Esbk8q/31232k.pdf

23. Resources Anatomy of a Blog http://webdesign.about.com/cs/weblogs/a/aa063003a.htm http://webdesign.about.com/cs/weblogs/a/aa063003a.htm Blog Idea File http://www.weblogg- ed.com/stories/storyReader$100 http://www.weblogg- ed.com/stories/storyReader$100 A Webquest on Blogs http://www.ettenborough.net/WOW2004/ http://www.ettenborough.net/WOW2004/ Another favorite – CogDogBlog CogDogBlog GREAT! Blog Glossary http://www.samizdata.net/blog/glossary.html http://www.samizdata.net/blog/glossary.html Keeping Children Safe While Using Blogs http://www.netalert.net.au/02582-How-can-children-stay- safe-using-blogs.asp http://www.netalert.net.au/02582-How-can-children-stay- safe-using-blogs.asp How Eighth Graders View Blogging http://www.ottergroup.com/blog/BlogsandEducation/_arch ives/2005/6/10 http://www.ottergroup.com/blog/BlogsandEducation/_arch ives/2005/6/10

24. Resources Blog – Wikipedia