Blog

=Blog=

[[image:blog.png width="148" height="148" align="right"]]
Short for "Web Log," this term refers to a list of journal entries posted on a Web page. Anybody who knows how to create and publish a Web page can publish their own blog. Some Web hosts have made it even easier by creating an interface where users can simply type a text entry and hit "publish" to publish their blog. Because of the simplicity of creating a blog, many people (often young kids and adults) have found a new presence on the Web. Instead of writing confidential entries in a book that no one is supposed to see, people now can share their personal feelings and experiences with thousands of people around the world. Blogs are typically updated daily, monthly, or anywhere in between.

Why are Blogs important in the Classroom:
Fortunately for teachers, blogs are surprisingly easy to use. They require minimum technical knowledge and are quickly and easily created and maintained. Unlike many traditional Web sites, they are flexible in design and can be changed relatively easily. Best of all, students will find them convenient and accessible via home or library computers.


 * Highly motivating to students, especially those who otherwise might not become participants in classrooms.
 * Excellent opportunities for students to read and write.
 * Effective forums for collaboration and discussion.
 * Powerful tools to enable scaffolded learning or mentoring to occur.

As an educational tool, blogs may be integrated in a multi-faceted manner to accommodate all learners. Blogs can serve at least four basic functions.


 * 1. Classroom Management**Class blogs can serve as a portal to foster a community of learners. As they are easy to create and update efficiently, they can be used to inform students of class requirements, post handouts, notices, and homework assignments, or act as a question and answer board.
 * 2. Collaboration**Blogs provide a space where teachers and students can work to further develop writing or other skills with the advantage of an instant audience. Teachers can offer instructional tips, and students can practice and benefit from peer review. They also make online mentoring possible. For example, a class of older students can help a class of younger students develop more confidence in their writing skills. Students can also participate in cooperative learning activities that require them to relay research findings, ideas, or suggestions.
 * 3. Discussions**A class blog opens the opportunity for students to discuss topics outside of the classroom. With a blog, every person has an equal opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions. Students have time to be reactive to one another and reflective. Teachers can also bring together a group of knowledgeable individuals for a given unit of study for students to network and conference with on a blog.
 * 4.Student Portfolios** Blogs present, organize, and protect student work as digital portfolios. As older entries are archived, developing skills and progress may be analyzed more conveniently. Additionally, as students realize their efforts will be published, they are typically more motivated to produce better writing. Teachers and peers may conference with a student individually on a developing work, and expert or peer mentoring advice can be easily kept for future reference.

To see how students think Blogs are important in the classroom watchh the video below: @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfJETK3am1M

For more information on Blogging in the Clasrrom you can visit the websites below: @http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/19/technology/in-the-classroom-web-logs-are-the-new-bulletin-boards.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm @http://msblakelysblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/why-is-blogging-important-in-classroom.html

To check out some free blogging websites visit: @http://blog.com/ https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=blogger&passive=1209600&continue=http://www.blogger.com/home&followup=http://www.blogger.com/home&ltmpl=start#s01 @http://wordpress.com/ @http://www.weebly.com/

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