BETT TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS

Web 2.0: Blogs

What is Web 2.0?

Web 2.0 refers to web pages that allow users to interact with the site or with each other Social media like Facebook Blogs Wikis Podcasts

A user can edit all or part of a page right on the web

As compared to static websites that are just there for you to read and not input anything

Blogs

What is a blog?Short for “web log” A site that is made of individual entries or

posts Could be written by one author Or several/many authors Could be about one theme or topic, or more general,

like an online diary Usually allows readers to comment

Posts appear in reverse chronological order (newest usually at top)

Publishing a blog

You need a site to host your blogYou can edit and post your entries through a

“dashboard” or administrative area once you log in

Once your post your entry, it is considered “published”

Can be a “photoblog” or a “videoblog” instead of text

Examples

Multiauthor: http://www.scotusblog.com/

Photoblog http://dogshaming.tumblr.com/

Blogs in teaching

Best used to practice writing Can be used to stimulate discussion on a

certain topicGives students an incentive to pay close

attention to grammar and preparationStudents can read each other’s entries and

comment Teacher can easily comment on entries

Another option – teacher can write a blog, students have to read and comment

Blogs in teaching

Your ideas? What themes or topics could students write

about?How could you give feedback?How could you ensure they work on their

post before publishing it?

How to create a blog

Find a free hostEdublogs.org is one specifically for education

Advantage for this over others services – is easy to use, students will not be on a site meant for the general public

Sign up for an accountFollow the links to the publishing pagePost!

Activity

I have created a site for everyone to post something about their experience here.

Templebett.edublogs.orgEveryone needs to log in and post something

to the blog to see how it works from the point of view of a student.