Blogs

=//What is a Blog and Why Would I Want One?//=

A [|blog] (short for Web Log) is an easily editable space that has a bit more hierarchy than a [|wiki]. Blogs are usually set up such that an individual can post their writings, thoughts, etc. and easily edit the look of the blog site. Blogs are published in reverse chronological order - therefore the newest posts appear at the top. Blogs also usually allow readers to come in and comment on what has been written by the author. These comments appear connected to particular posts (therefore they are thematic) and they have titles, date and time stamps associated with each post. This makes them a very rich medium for communication.

Blogs can also integrate media such as pictures, sound and video as well as text and links. Video blogs are sometimes called [|vlogs]. You can control to some degree the rights that a visitor has to post on the page. As opposed to user-created Web pages - blogs offer a look and feel through selection of options in a Web-based interface and are very easy to set up - resulting in a nice layout with little work. This frees the author to concentrate on the creation of content. The universe of known blogs is called the [|blogosphere].

[|Blogs] are topical forums (much like discussion boards) but they are meant to allow more control of the look of your publication. They are democratizing the world of publication and news reporting like never before. Anyone can do it! And many people are doing it. Only a few blogs have the vast readership and popularity needed to [|sway opinion] and [|make a living] for their authors. In the past couple of national election cycles blogs have become both an important battle ground for ideas and an important source of information. Votes are won and lost in this space. News breaks on the Drudge Report (an early and famous blog). This is one of the central places where the folks for CNN get their story ideas (this from a CNN producer I know.)

You are likely to find more and longer text on a blog than on a wiki. This is not a hard and fast rule - just a defacto standard. Most blogs are primarily outwardly focused. That is to say they exist to present the ideas of their creators first and commentary comes later and plays second fiddle to the blog author stylistically. The [|history] of blogging can be an interesting subject since it has all occurred within the last [|decade]. You can [|search] for blogs on just about any topic imaginable. You can subscribe to a blog as an [|RSS] feed - using your favorite [|feed] reader or [|aggregator]. When using feeds - the new content published is automatically collected by your feed reader and waits for you to access it the next time you use the device or program.

So, why would you want one? Well Ms. Smith... you have a problem. How are you going to get an entire class of third graders to "want to" write their next language arts assignment? Ms. Smith?... Ms. Smith????? - Oh there you are under the desk! Now that I've got your attention - I'll tell you. Offer them the opportunity to publish it electronically - for all (this is a qualified all) to see. Make a big deal about it and they will too. Now let's [|get Blogging!] Check your E-mail for Username and Password.

Examples of Blogs for different uses
Tom Spencer's [|Learning With Technology] Blog

[|Will Richardson's Blog] - http://www.weblogg-ed.com/

[|The Drudge Report] - http://www.drudgereport.com/

[|Ruth's Ruckus] - http://ppsblogs.net/ruthokoye/

[|Mister Teacher] - [|http://misterteacher.blogspot.com]

[|The Blogherald] - http://www.blogherald.com/

[|Lifehacker] - http://lifehacker.com/

[|Tom Spencer Blog @ PPS] - http://ppsblogs.net/tomspencer/

**Set Up an Aggregator** at [|Bloglines] - [|http://www.bloglines.com]

 * Recommended Reads**

[|Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Tools for Classrooms - Will Richardson]

[|Web 2.0, New Tools, New Schools]

[|The Rough Guide to Blogging]

[|Blogs, Wikis, MySpace and More]

This site and other learning materials created by Tom Spencer - Educational Consulting - customized to your division's needs. © Copyright 2008 **Tom Spencer** All rights reserved.