Course Module for Jody Welin

Blogging

Objective: The students will gain an introductory knowledge of blogging and be able to decide the positives and negatives of online journals.

Objective: The students will demonstrate the ability to start their own blog and maintain it successfully.

Objective: The students will be able to decipher between successful blogging and unsuccessful blogging.

Introduction: Our world is becoming a paperless world. Remember the days when we wrote everything down? Now many of us use computers to create lists, write letters, make appointments, and many other everyday functions. The most recent paper function that has changed to a computer function is journaling. People used to keep diaries or personal journals in pretty books next to their beds but now there is another way. Blogs are online journals. Anyone can create a blog on the web and “write” in it daily, weekly, or monthly. Some blogs are profitable and others are used as an outlet for personal ideas.

Activity: Now discover why so many people are turning to blogs as their journals. Would you change your ways of writing to blogging instead of the familiar paper and pencil method?

Visit the following websites to become familiar with blogs.

http://www.marketingterms.com/dictionary/blog/

http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/javascript/2002/06/13/megnut.html

Visit these websites to see the pros and cons of blogging.

http://weblogs.about.com/cs/interviews/a/bloggermoms_3.htm

http://www.bigleftoutside.com/archives/000301.php

http://garylapointe.com/mypointe/pointes/2004_12_18.php

Here is an interesting story about blogging in an instructional situation from Frederick County, MD.

http://news.com.com/In+schools,+blogs+are+the+new+bulletin+boards/2100-1032_3-5316504.html?type=pt&part=inv&tag=feed&subj=news

Assignment:

1. Start your own blog. Here are a couple of options for starting your own free blog.

http://www.blogger.com/start

http://www.crimsonblog.com/

The topic of your blog can be anything you desire. Make postings on the blog for one week (a minimum of 5 postings).

Write about your experience as a blogger in a 300-word summary. Explain the topic of your blog. Be sure to include the pros and cons of blogging and a link to your blog

2. Monitor any 2 blogs of your choice for a minimum of one week.

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Write a 200-word critique of each blog. Make sure to include the topic of the blog, a hyperlink to the blogs, and 3 recommendations and 2 commendations for each blog.

Assessment:

Rubric

	unacceptable	developing	accomplished
Personal Blog	Less than 5 posting that contain little insight	5 postings that contain little insight	5 or more posting that contain thoughtful insight
Summary of personal blog	Short summary that doesn’t contain all necessary information	Brief, interesting summary with some of the necessary information	Summary that contains all necessary information and shows understanding of the experience.
Summary of 2 other blogs	Short summary that doesn’t contain all necessary information	Brief, interesting summary with some of the necessary information	Summary that contains all necessary information and shows understanding of the experience.

Submission: Please send your assignment to the instructor as a Word document attached to an email.

ISTE Standards:

1. Technology Operations and Concepts.

Teachers demonstrate a sound understanding of technology operations and concepts.

1. Teachers will be able to demonstrate an introductory knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to technology.
2. Teachers will be able to demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies

2. Productivity and Professional Practice.

Teachers use technology to enhance their productivity and professional practice.

a. Teachers will be able to use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional development and lifelong learning