Blogs

Definitions
Blog - short for web log, or online journal Blogosphere - the "universe" of blogs as a whole Blogroll - a collection of links to other people's blogs Edublogsphere - the same as blogosphere, but applied to education blogs
 * from __Coming Of Age: An Introduction to the New Worldwide Web__

Applications
Classroom Uses of Weblogs : http://anne.teachesme.com/2004/10/05 Educational Blogging: http://www.educause.edu/pub/er/erm04/erm0450.asp?bhcp=1 Matrix of some uses of blogs: http://www.edtechpost.ca/gems/matrix2.gif Use as resources Audioblogs
 * Anne Davis lists uses of weblogs
 * Downes, Stephen. EDUCAUSE Review, vol. 39, no. 5 (September/October 2004): 14–26.
 * Leslie, Scott. 2003.
 * Gabcast: http://www.gabcast.com
 * Blogzy: http://www.blogzy.com
 * Skype: http://www.skype.com
 * Kolb, Liz. "From Toy To Tool: Audioblogging With Cell Phones." __Learning & Leading With Technology__. November 2006.

Benefits
[|Using Blogs to Integrate Technology in the Classroom]

Guidelines
Follow the school district's acceptable use policy. Have a permission form signed by students and parents. List expectations. When I discussed using blogs with Lyla, she said it was covered in the AUP and to get permission slips signed by parents.

[|Examples from variety of sources] [|Example of a consent form]
 * Blogging Policies and Resources Wiki collected by Bud Hunt
 * Example of a form from a university

Classroom/School Samples
[|Edutechation] [|Pre-Cal 405] Blog started in 2005 by a math teacher in Winnipeg [|Bud's Blog Experiment Blog] Blogs set up by a teacher at an alternative high school in Colorado [|The Write Weblog] Fifth graders "talk" about their writing [|EduBlog Insights] A blog by Anne Davis as she reflects on her learning as she has her students use blogs [|Our Stories] Blog maintained by an elementary teacher. [|Studio Four News] 4th graders reporting current news [|Mrs. Bradley's & Mrs. Mendoza's] Blog 1st grade classroom blog [|Class Blogmeister] Lists many school blogs

Suggested Sites
Edublogs: http://edublogs.org/ Learner Blogs: http://learnerblogs.org/ Blogger: http://www.blogger.com/start
 * Offers free blogs to educators
 * Offers free blogs for schools
 * Free blogs available

[|Gaggle Blogs & email accounts] This site offers free blogs and email accounts for students and teachers. Content is screened for inappropriate words, phrases, and images.

Will Richardson's Podcast: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/620000062/post/160005016.html
 * hosted by School Library Journal, gives an introduction to blogging

Blog Search Tools
Technorati: http://www.technorati.com/ Search web logs by keywords

Google Blog Search: http://blogsearch.google.com/ Search web logs by keywords