blogs



== =What are weblogs?= At its simplest, "A blog **(a [|portmanteau] of** web log**)** is a website where typed comments are displayed in reverse chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning //to maintain or add content to a blog." ( [|Wikipedia] )// The term weblog, or blog, was coined by Jorn Barger in 1997 and refers to a simple webpage consisting of brief paragraphs of opinion, information, personal diary entries, or links, called posts, arranged chronologically with the most recent first, in the style of an online journal ([|Doctorow et al., 2002)].

One who blogs is a "blogger."

Here's a short video that helps to explain blogs.


 * Blogs in Plain English**

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== =**Reading Blogs**= There are literally millions of blogs now available and you can find blogs for almost any topic, profession, hobby or interest. Blogs are a great source of professional development and collegial inspiration.
 * For Professional Development**

There are search engines designed to help you find both the blogs that may be of interest to you as well as information that what you want in blogs including [|Blog Search Engine], [|BlogDigger], [| Bloglines,] [|BlogScope], [|Google Blog Search], [|IceRocket] [|,] [|Sphere] and [|Technorati]. Like any reference tool, some blog search engines are better for some kinds of information than others. [|LisZen] searches library and information science blogs. 

=**Writing Blogs**= In addition to leaving comments on someone else's blog, you can create your own blog! Once you’ve read blogs for a while, you will want to create your own. Most free blogging software sites will let you have multiple blogs, so you might want to start one that is similar to a daily journal, or one that shares family information so others across the country can check in to see what’s happening at your house! You might want to jump right in and start with a blog for your classes.

=****Other Uses of Blog Tools****= Below is the link to several research projects using a blogging tool called Tumblr. Although there isn't any collaberation with this project, my research project is posted, easily editable, and permanent (until I choose to change it!)

http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/drstocker

 David Warlick's 2cents worth - [|http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/  Bud the Teacher [|http://budtheteacher.typepad.com/[|http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/ The Infinite Thinking Machine - http://www.infinitethinking.org/ Joyce Valenza - [|http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com]     Cathy Nelson - http://blog.cathyjonelson.com/
 * My Favorites**

These are the blogs my students use: http://edt3010.blogspot.com/ http://3610edt.blogspot.com/

Here are some well-known and highly used blogging tools:

> [|EduBlogger] As the name implies, Edublogger was created for teachers and students <span class="wiki_link_ext">. A free demo is available. There is a built in grading system, and a notification to the teacher when students do not complete there assignments in the blog. Pricing depends upon the number of users. >
 * [|Blogger]<span class="wiki_link_ext"> R <span class="wiki_link_ext">anked as the most popular by school library media specialists, you can create your own free blog with this hosted tool and be online today. A variety of settings, templates and features are available. You can even email your posts to the blog. Blogger is now part of the Google family of web applications.
 * [|Blogmeister]<span class="wiki_link_ext"> Another full-featured hosted blogging system designed specifically for students and teachers. You can create a blog with individual student sub-blogs. Free, but you must request a school registration code. You can find class blogs by others on the site, too. <span class="wiki_link_ext">
 * [|LiveJournal]<span class="wiki_link_ext"> A free, open-source hosted blogging system.
 * [|GaggleBlogs]<span class="wiki_link_ext"> From the people who provide Gaggle email services for students and teachers, Gaggle blogs <span class="wiki_link_ext"> provides teacher administered blogs. Words and URLs are scanned and blocked when necessary, and the teacher can control access by specific students. Both free and fee accounts are offered.

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=Let's Learn!=

Blog<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">ging Tools
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">There are many good, free blogging tools.
 * **Blogger/ blogspot: GOOGLE'S BLOG SERVICE** - [|http://www.blogger.com]
 * [[image:http://drstocker.wikispaces.com/i/mime/32/application/pdf.png width="32" height="32" link="http://theconnectedclassroom.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/setting_up_blogger_account.pdf"]][| setting_up_blogger_account.pdf]

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">[|Blog Basics for the Classroom] This comprehensive article gives all the details on using gated blogs safely in the classroom, including explanations of blogging basics, a TeachersFirst Step-by-Step on how to start one, complete reviews of several free blogging tools for teachers, and over two dozen ideas for how to use a blog with your students.
 * **Edublogs** -<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">[|http://www.edublogs.com]
 * [[image:http://drstocker.wikispaces.com/i/mime/32/application/pdf.png width="32" height="32" link="http://theconnectedclassroom.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/edublogs_setup.pdf"]][| edublogs_setup.pdf]

Let's do this together.

Click on the videos below. Remember, you can have the video AND your internet explorer or firefox browser open so that you can follow along. But don't hesitate to pause the video, back it up or fast forward, depending on your need.

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 * More to Explore**
 * [|21Classes]
 * [|Bimbl]
 * [|Edmodo] a microblgging tool designed for education. Gives students and teachers "the ability to share notes, links, and files to foster communication inside and outside of the classroom. Teachers also have the ability to post alerts, assignments, and events to share with their students."
 * [|LearnerBlog]
 * [|MovableType]
 * [|OnSugar] Very easy to use hosted blogging tool with built-in quiz and poll generators.
 * [|PocketManila] online notebooks styled after the canvas-bound manila paper journal - could be used to blog, for creative writing, for presentation, etc.
 * [|Posterous]. Easy way to start a blog! Email your post and it formats it and sends you a link. You can then keep or edit.
 * [|SchoolBlog] from ePals "now available at no cost to schools, districts, and learners globally."
 * [|SquareSpace]
 * [|TeacherLingo]
 * [|Think.com]
 * [|Tumblr] This “micro-blogging” site upgraded their service this year. Students can post their work to individual or group “Tumblrs.” A student can also share their password with a small number of students who can leave comments. Share text, photos, quotes, links, music, and videos.
 * [|TypePad]
 * [|WordPress]
 * [|Xanga]

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=Learn More!=


 * [|Atomic Learning] A comprehensive workshop designed to acquaint you with blogs, how they can be used, and how to set up your own blog using [|Blogger]. Some lessons are free.
 * [|Blogging 101] A presentation about blogs and blogging from a journalist. Examples of different kinds of blogs are provided.
 * [|Blogger Tour] An overview of one of the oldest and most popular blogging tools and how to create your own blogs.
 * [|Blogging Basics for the Classroom] From TeachersFirst, a step-by-step guide to blogs, ideas for blogs in education, and help in creating your own blog. Charts are available for the major free educational blogging tools.
 * [|Blogs, Wikis and Podcasts: Web 2.0 Tools You Can Use] A slideshow answering the questions what, why and how to use these tools in a library setting.
 * [|Edublogs - Video Tutorials] A series of videos showing how to use Edublogs
 * Edublogs Help Resources including some video tutorials and many other how-to's
 * [|Fusion: Blogging] Handouts, slideshows, screencasts, links and more
 * [|Getting Started with Blogs] A library media specialist shares "how-to's" on her wiki including ideas for using blogs, step-by-step instructions for starting a blog on EduBlogs, and a variety of good blogs including some for librarians and library media specialists.
 * [|Library Clips: The many ways to post to your blog] No excuses for not posting! This page gives a variety of ways and tools. You'll be sure to find one or two that will work for you!
 * Screencast tutorials on using [|LL4Schools] blogging tools.
 * Moving Forward: Blogs Resources related to K-12 blogging, including articles on blogs by educators, good examples of blogs in classrooms, by teachers, by administrators and, of course, by library media specialists. Also, how to set up a blog using one of many different tools--most free.

= = == =More Info!= For more about blogs and how they can be used, see:


 * [|50 Ways to Take Your Blog to the Next Level] How you should consider your goal, your design, your content, how you promote it, and the business aspects of your blog.
 * [|Getting Started with Classroom Blogging] Use this article when helping teachers think about implement blogging for their classroom...or use it with teachers as YOUR classroom(?) or, of course, if you have a project where students are going to be blogging.
 * [|Getting Started with Edublogs] Links to lots of resources!