Getting started with blogs
What is a blog? A blog can be many things. Blogs can either be the writer's "reflection aloud" or be used simply to convey information. Blogs have a moderator who typically is the main author and who creates the posts to which others can respond.
Sites that host blogs:
o Edublogs www.edublogs.org
o Blogger www.blogger.com
o Blogmeister
***Instructions for edublogs:
o Create a user name(this will also be the web address so choose carefully).
o Enter your work email so you can approve blog posts from work.
o Your blog will be created and a link will be emailed to you.
o Basic Settings
-- To moderate and approve comments, use the Options--Discuss area. (Check all boxes under Options--Discussion)
-- OR Users have to login (under Users) Not recommended
-- Presentation—controls the theme or design; the "sidebar widgets" allow you to drag and drop items to show on your page
-- Write—this area allows you to write or manage posts
-- Manage—this area allows you to go back and edit or change posts
--Blogroll--the blogroll area allows you to create a list of other recommended blogs or sites
When creating a post--
--Assign a "category" or "tag" for your post so that they will be sorted by subject in your sidebar.
Examples:
o Schools http://mabryonline.org/blogs/
o On technology http://www.weblogg-ed.com
o Corporate blogs: http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/id/A287JD9GH3ZKFY
o Use Technorati or Bloglines or Google to locate blogs of interest to you
School libraries with blogs--Explore!
Why use a blog?
Weblogg-ed has gathered suggestions here
Getting started with wikis
What is a wiki? A wiki is a site where collaborators can contribute information jointly. Usually a wiki can be edited by any reader. Also, there is usually an area for comments and a history of the edited sections.
Sites:
o www.pbwiki.com (free or paid levels of access)
o www.wikispaces.com (giving away 10,000 free/partner to Edublogs)
o www.jotspot.com (Google just bought jotspot and it’s currently disabled)
www.wetpaint.com (can invite "writers" to join, whom you approve)
Tips:
o Find my tips on using pbwiki.com at www.brightworkshop.pbwiki.com (password is “eanes”) Click “sidebar” to see tips.
o Another example at www.futura.wikispaces.com
Examples:
o WHS examples www.policyproject.pbwiki.com
o Other Eanes examples http://bcebookblog.pbwiki.com/
o Staff development committee planning
o Wikipedia.com encyclopedia
o Wikitravel and wikibooks http://wikitravel.org/ http://en.wikibooks.org/
o Wikinews http://en.wikinews.org/
o Ebay has a wiki where users create the manual
o Best Buy has a corporate wiki for employees to share information
What can you use a wiki for?
--To create a class encyclopedia or textbook
--To collect group work so that students can collaborate between classes
--To collect links to good websites or news articles on topics
--To work with other teachers on a collaborative document
--To collaboratively post book reviews or audio book links
--To collect your own links or images to share with your class in a presentation
--To use in a discussion or a workshop to list ideas and comments
--To create a recommendation site for your subject (books, movies, news, etc)
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