Blogs

What exactly is a blog? To most people it looks like a website. It is just that, but behind the scenes it acts differently.

Blogs look and work like regular web pages, but instead of static content, the content of a blog is "posted" by a blog's author. Typically the latest post is at the top of the page. Posts are usually short and can be updated at any time. The best part of a blog is that minimal technical knowledge is required to create and maintain a blog.




So what makes a blog different?  Blogs use something called RSS - Really Simple Syndication. This means that anyone who wants to see any updates from the author can subscribe and will automatically receive those updates into their reader or browser. Behind the HTML you see in the browser, there is XML that helps determine the information that is pushed out to "subscribers."

The advantage? Your content is guaranteed to be delivered to those who want to see it. (Compare this to email, which isn't guaranteed because of ISP's and Spam Filters.)



Use blogs in the classroom to:

• Manage Your Classroom
• Collaborate
• Have Discussions
• Student Portfolios

Anyone can create a free blog at http://www.blogger.com. Create one for each class and assign students at contributors or authors, or have each student create their own blog where they can upload their assignments.

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Other Resources:

• Using Blogs to Integrate Technology Into the Classroom
• Ideas: Using Blogs in the Classroom