Blogging

__**Blogging**__

//**What is Blogging?**//

Blogging is similar to keeping an online journal on the web.

//**What free resources are available for Blogging?**//

http://wordpress.com/ FROM CAMILLE: This blog site is pretty basic. It might be good for school in some ways because it is pretty minimal. I was hoping to design a background or put more of myself into the design.

http://www.thoughts.com/ FROM CAMILLE: Just discovered thoughts.com. For my personal use, I much prefer this site. One can upload videos, podcasts. pictures, and organize polls to go along with your blog. Much more of a "multi-media" experience. However, it might be too much fun for school... if you get my drift. It feels like a Facebook page. Additionally, on this site there is an opportunity to make friends ("meet people"), and tag people as friends. Could this get tricky in a high school setting?

ANOTHER NOTE ON THOUGHTS.COM: I just discovered how easy it is to look at wacky videos on this site. Literally just a click on the homepage. In the words of Jill, "Hmmm... I wonder what will happen?"

https://www.blogger.com/start This was very easy to do and had some formatting choices. A question is can you delete the comments people write. In a classroom setting you wouldn't want inappropriate comments on your blog.

//**What are web sites that have examples or models of Blogs used for educational purposes?**//

//Professional (about teaching)// http://ncteinbox.blogspot.com/ (NCTE's blog)

FROM THIS NCTE BLOG: Interestingly, on this blog there is a blog about how to write a good blog (very meta-blogging). Here is the link to the article: http://ncteinbox.blogspot.com/2008/10/tips-on-good-blog-entry.html

http://www.practicaltheory.org/serendipity/ (a principal's blog):

//Blogs by Teachers (for students)// http://www.mshodgebookblog.blogspot.com/ (a teacher's blog about books) I LOVE THIS IDEA: I am totally going to do this once I am a "real" teacher..... So fun for staying in touch over the summer.

SPEAKING OF BOOK BLOGS... I JUST DISCOVERED THIS AMAZING SITE FOR DORKS LIKE ME. It is a site called BookBlogs. You can recommend books and read people's book reviews and lists. Also, you can do book trades!!! Here is a link : http://bookblogs.ning.com/

//**How could Blogs be used with the following audiences:**//

Jill and I just had a discussion about teacher blogs for students. We love the book blog because it is fun! A past student who is stuck at the library not knowing what to read can log onto the blog to get recommendations. Also, it is a great way to stay in touch over the summer. However, we are not sold on the use of blogs to communicate classroom assignments or rules. There is a tricky gray area here. If the blog is the spot to get the assignment info, where does that leave kids without access to computers? Again, we face the technology gap.
 * Students (i.e. writing assignments, class activities)


 * Faculty (i.e. resource sharing, professional development)


 * Parents (i.e. communication, sharing of student work)

It is easy to become lost in the blogs. The teacher's blog I looked at had all of his family's photos on them. I spent more time looking at them than reading what he wrote.
 * //What could be problematic about Blogging? What should teachers consider when they think about using Blogs in their classrooms?//**