Blogs

Blogs Expert Page

__**General Knowledge:**__


 * I didn't even know that "blog" is short for weblog.
 * Blogging began as a way for people to record (log) the web sites they have recently viewed and found interesting.
 * True "blogging" still requires linking sources found on the internet, commenting on them, and receiving and responding to responses from other viewers on the internet.
 * According to Wikipedia: As of 16 February 2011, there were over 156 million public blogs in existence. Wow.
 * According to a recent New Yorker article, 14% of American women maintain a personal blog. Wow.

__**Teaching Ideas with examples:**__


 * Class Portal:
 * Make your curriculum a digital document
 * Ex: [|Dean Shareski's "Ideas and Thoughts" blog]
 * Archive course materials (class rules, homework assignments, rubrics, handouts, presentations used in class
 * Creates teacher accountability, student responsibility, and transparency for parents


 * Online Filing Cabinet and E-Portfolio
 * Have students post work online for teacher and student response
 * Ex: [|a student page]
 * Also allows for accountability as a teacher can always check student work on the blog (potentially with time stamp)
 * Students can constantly reflect on work since it is all in one place
 * This could become an artifact students shown college admissions officers or potential employers
 * Collaborative Space
 * Students create an online reader's guide to a book
 * the author of the book can be contacted to join in the discussion, or any other individual in the field


 * School Website
 * Each department could have its own blog linked to the site
 * Ex: [|Lewis Elementary School Website]

__**The Pedagogy of Weblogs**__


 * Introducing blogs as a new writing genre
 * I like the fact that the use of blogs can be encouraged for both formal and very informal writing depending on the expectations or structure that a teacher sets in place.
 * There is a point where posting ends and blogging as an academic exercise begins.


 * Scaffolding Blogging
 * Like teachers learning how to use this new media in steps, the same applies for students (who can probably learn it much more quickly).
 * Start with students reading other blogs and responding in a way with which they are comfortable.
 * Next, have students create their own blogs where they can practice posting links and responses to what they find on the internet.
 * Finally have students begin looking at and commenting on eachothers' blogs to create true blogging conversations.


 * Blogging Across the Curriculum Examples
 * AP Calculus (tinyurl.com/2v4862)
 * Mr. C.'s Class Blog (tinyurl.com/clby52)
 * The Write weblog (tinyurl.com/51yr59)


 * Blogs as resources
 * Besides working simply as a tool for students or a class, blogs from around the world can contain valuable and interesting information that can be used
 * General References:**

-[|Sample Blogging Letter]to send to parents

[|New York Times Blog Suggestions] (for general perusal/ideas on effective structure)

Blogs in Education!

[] (check out this website for some helpful hints from a teacher who is having success with student blogging)

[]

THIS BLOG IS AWESOME. Blogs can be used to get kids discussing literature, developing their opinions, and socializing in a meaningful way as Inkpop proves.