Blogs

By going to Google Blogger it is a quick and easy way to start your own blog. If I can do it so can you. You may be asking yourself ‘why would I would to start my own blog’. Well, because it is a great way to express yourself, to share with others your interests and passion with others. To get your thoughts out because you have something important to share with the world that needs to be heard. That’s my reason why everyone should have a blog.

The main use for a blog is for the writer to journal their thoughts ideas and passions through text, video, art, pictures, audio and the readers or views can comment on each entry. The diagram below gives a general overview of how a blog works.

(Wittner, What are Blogs and How Does it Work?, 2006)

What I have learnt about ‘blogs’ also none as ‘weblog’ is that they are a Web 2.0 not a Web 1.0. A Web 1.0 is a website that we can only read or view. The content does not change for different viewers, nor can they add content themselves (Fasso, 2010). The only person that can change the content is the webmaster. Web 2.0 is owned by the people for the people. It is none as the ‘read-write’ web. Viewers can edit, download, upload and publish therefore creating user-generated content.

When it comes to using blogs in a classroom situation there are endless possibilities. Teachers need to be reminded that with new tools come risks and responsibilities. When using blogs in the classroom teachers must consistently keep an eye on student activity and on the content that is being added to their blogs. There are many positive for using blogs in class. They can be used to build a number of different areas in the students’ learning.

For example:

- for knowledge construction

- for reflective learning

- to enhance writing skills

- group work

(Wittner, Blogs as Teaching/Learning Space, 2006)

Some reasons why blogs should be used in classrooms were suggested on the Blogger site. They include:

For Teacher:

- Posting resources, lessons, and homework.

- Keeping parents up-to-date on class happenings.

- Reflecting on their own teaching practices and share their ideas with other educators.

For Students:

- Sharing schoolwork with their peers, parents, and others.

- Collaborating on projects and get feedback from others.

- Keeping a reflective journal throughout the school year.

(Blogger in the classroom, 2010)

References:

Blogger in the classroom. (2010). Retrieved August 20, 2010, from Blogger: http://www.infinitethinkingmachine.org/stuff/Blogger.pdf

Fasso, W. (2010, May 30). Practical Activity: Week 1 - Blogs and Concept Maps. Retrieved July 15, 2010, from CQUniversity Australia Managing E-Learning: http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=99043

Wittner, R. (2006, August). Blogs as Teaching/Learning Space. Retrieved August 15, 2010, from Weblogs: http://www.sbg.ac.at/zfl/eTeaching_Skills/eTeaching_Weblogs/blogs_as_teachinglearning_space.html

Wittner, R. (2006, August). What are Blogs and How Does it Work? Retrieved August 15, 2010, from Weblog: http://www.sbg.ac.at/zfl/eTeaching_Skills/eTeaching_Weblogs/basics.html