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Chris Carter Hertfordshire Development Centre Tel: 01438 843918 Email: chris.carter @hertscc.gov.uk
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Blogs

What is a Blog?

The word ‘blog’ is shortened from ‘web-log.’ It is a webpage(s) where you can easily publish text, images, videos, links and sounds. You latest postings are always shown at the top of the blog page, giving the feel of an online diary. An important feature of a blog is the facility for readers to post comments on the content of the blog. (However, this can be disabled.)

What are Blogs Used for?

It is estimated that there are 50 million blogs in existence, with a new one being created every second. People use them for all sorts of things, but usually the idea is to share thoughts, ideas and opinions. It is a simple a way for people to publish. It might be a diary, a travelogue, family news, business updates for customers etc. Most blogs automatically create an RSS feed so that readers can ‘subscribe’ and be alerted to any updates that have been made, through their RSS reader (for more info on RSS feeds, click here.) Over the last few years there has been an ever growing interest in using blogs in education.

Why use Blogs in the Classroom?

There are a number of ways in which blogs are being used in the classroom. A blog can be public or private (accessible only with a log-in.) The ability to comment can be enabled, disabled, or restricted to certain people. This control opens up many opportunities for sharing work. The difference is that by blogging, learners can share with a real and mass audience. They are writing with a purpose, and with the audience in mind. They are also writing with the knowledge that people can comment on what they have written (assuming you’ve enabled this.) This motivates the learner to check their work more thoroughly, plan more carefully and pay attention to accuracy. It also gives them a reason to write, and can be very motivating.

Examples of Classroom use

• The teacher posts a text and asks for comments (eg a news item.)
• The teacher posts prompts for writing and students post their work as comments.
• The teacher posts an image and asks for comments.
• Invite online discussion about different topics.
• Showcase pupils’ work (can be text, image or sound/video) and invite comments from parents and carers.
• Link a class with another class in another country to share work and discussion.
• Ask pupils to research a topic and post relevant links to the blog.

eSafety and Related Issues

Obviously with anything published to the internet it is essential to consider eSafety. If your blog is going to be ‘open’ for viewing, never publish pupil information or identifiable pupil images, or school information that you wouldn’t want published on the school’s website. You should consider writing under made up pseudonyms, which can be part of the fun. You should set the blog to have comments moderated by the owner, so that nothing can be published without your approval. Better still, use one of the educational blogging resources that give greater control over how the blog is viewed and used. Please read our eSafety information pages here. Before starting blogging you should make an Acceptable Use Policy which everyone concerned should read and sign. You should also get parental permission. Also, as the blog may be accessible across the internet, you should discuss issues such as free expression, inappropriate, libellous or defamatory content and copyright.

Further Reading

• http://supportblogging.com/Links+to+School+Bloggers 
  A list of school bloggers. 
• http://nlcommunities.com/communities/msit_blog/archive/2006/05/19/79054.aspx A list of blogging resources, information, tutorials etc.
• www.teachersfirst.com/content/blog/blogideas1.cfm 
  A site to get you started with blogging.
• www.britblog.com
  A directory of UK blogs – not specifically education.

Starting a Blog