Objective - Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic function and application of web logs (blogs) in education.

Objective - Students will create a professional blog and record several entries.

Introduction - Blogs are everywhere on the internet, yet many teachers are intimidated by them.  In this course module, you will explore some blogs, read about their uses in education, and create your one of your own for professional use.

Sample Blogs

Kew-Forest Library Blog-written by a high school librarian/tech coordinator

http://kfteachers.blogspot.com/2005/05/fun-with-timelines-on-webwednesday.html

J.H. House Elementary School-main site for this elementary school.  Many teachers and students have blogs that are linked here

http://itc.blogs.com/thewriteweblog/

The Monkey Speaks-written by the tech editor of School Library Journal

http://www.themonkeyspeaks.com/index.htm

 

Uses of Blogs in Education

Info Today article about Weblogs and RSS

http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/jan04/richardson.shtml

Will Richardson's Best Practices Blog-a very lengthy list of entries about "edublogs"

http://www.weblogg-ed.com/newsItems/departments/weblogBestPractices

Blogs & Education-written by the North Carolina Teachers Network

http://www.learnnc.org/index.nsf/doc/timesaver0501?OpenDocument

What to do with a Blog-educational uses of blogs

http://www.weblogg-ed.com/stories/storyReader$100

 

How to Start a Blog

Blogger-http://www.blogger.com/start-Google owns this blog service.

AOL Journals-http://pc.channel.aol.com/journals-with this AOL service, you can record a blog entry using  AIM (AOL Instant Messenger).

1. Use the "Sample Blogs" links to explore two blogs in your area of interest.
2. Read at least two of the articles about how blogs are being used by teachers or students to promote learning.
3. Read the link on creating a blog.  If you prefer to use a different host for your blog, read the directions provided by that service.

1. Create your own professional blog.  Your blog should have at least four entries (see description below).
2. In your blog, record at least 2 entries in which you reflect on your experience in learning about the existing use of blogs in education.  Be sure to reference the work you did in activity 1 of this assignment.  That is, your blog should include a link to and reflection upon at least two educational blogs you have explored.
3. Record at least 2 entries to the two articles you read in step 2.  Include a link to the article and a reflection upon it as it pertains to the positive and negative aspects of using a blog in your current or future teaching position.

Assignment Specification:  Blog Entries 

Each entry described above should include the following information:

• Specific reference to the activity stated above, e.g. "In this entry, I will reflect on my experience in learning about the existing use of blogs in education."

• Link to the site which is the topic of the reflection.

• Substantive reflection/analysis of the significance and/or usefulness of the site.

E-mail your instructor with a link to your blog, and post a link to your blog on your web index page.

Using an Aggregator to Collect Entries from other Blogs-see pages 5 and 6 in particular: they explain the process for using an aggregator 

http://static.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/gems/tech/RSSFAQ4.pdf

Subscription Blog Service

KidzLog-Weblog publishing for Kids User Guide

http://www.haranbanjo.com/kidzlog/userguide/