Blogs

[|Blogger]

**Define **
A video for people who wonder why blogs are such a big deal. media type="custom" key="3776103" width="211" height="213"

An instructional blog (short for a web log) is a website, maintained usually by a single author, where the creator can read, write, or edit entries in an online journal. Visitors to the blog can comment on the entry. A blog gives students a voice to express what and how they are learning.

** Discover **
Create your own blog and make it personal. You may choose one of these free online blogging services Blogger, Edublog, or 21Classes.

Once you have linked to your blog service, you are ready to create your blog! It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. 1. Create your blog account. Write down your username and password. 2. Name your blog. Remember that the whole web world can see your blog title and blog address. You probably don’t want to use your real name. Consider creating a blog name that’s anonymous, yet uniquely you. The URL for your blog will look like these examples – //[|2CoolTools]// or //[|Edublog]//, or //[|21classes]// (these are real blogs so of course you need to give your own blog its own unique name.) Please **remember your URL** address, bookmark it, or keep a notebook with your URLs, usernames, passwords, and special notes. 3. Choose a template. Have fun making your blog look pleasing to the eye by choosing a template.

media type="custom" key="4573808" Now let’s personalize the blog by adding an avatar ( a graphic representation of you.) It easy! 1. Go to [|Avatars]. If you do not have a yahoo account, you will need to create one. Then, build your avatar choosing from the options. Have fun with it! 2. Insert your avatar to your blog. [|Avatar Download].

** Develop **
Read articles on blogging. [|Teaching English] or [|Blogs in Education] or [|Bloggers Who Make a Difference] Take notes while reading the articles. What knowledge have you gained that will help you successfully develop a classroom blog?

Look at examples of instructional blogs. Keep in mind, you want to think about the success of the blog for instruction and how you can use this information to create your own classroom blog. Go to [|Edublog Awards 2008]. Choose 2 or 3 blogs to view from the award winners. After viewing the blogs, take notes on what you could use to help you develop your award-winning classroom blog.

Based on what you have learned about best practices in blogging, create an instructional blog for use with your students or colleagues.

Submit the link and invite your course facilitator to join your blog. Include in your blog your views and opinions that were formulated from the experiences listed above. Answering or speaking to the following questions: What knowledge have you gained that will help you successfully develop a classroom blog ? What might make your's an award winning classroom blog? How have you or how do you intend to use your blog with students?