Blogging - What?

This post is to simply display what a blog looks like and allow students to add comments.

So what is a blog?
Technorati - a leading monitor of the world of weblogs, says that a blog is:
"A weblog, or "blog", is a personal journal on the Web. Weblogs cover as many different topics, and express as many opinions, as there are people writing them. Some blogs are highly influential and have enormous readership, while others are mainly intended for a close circle of family and friends."

Your entries on a blog are called 'posts' you can add links to other blogs,websites and articles that are relevant to your 'post' . You can also add photo's and video's, how you do this is dependent on which blog host you use. Posts are displayed in reverse chronological order - your latest post first.

Who uses blogs?
Judging by Technorati there are approximately 70.4 million blogs (May 2007) so everyone is blogging. Blogs are a great way keep in touch with family while traveling. Blogs and the internet have allowed the traditional classroom to be enhanced by the online world and has opened opportunities to students who may not have previously had access to education. Blogs can also be used for your favourite hobbies, obsessions, sports, music, movies, pop stars, recipes, technology, gardens, business.......only limited by your imagination.
Many teachers use blogs to inform and educate their students and fellow educators.

Components of blog
Some of the components that make up a blog are:
Date - is entered automatically when a post is created
Post Title - Title you give your post
Categories - Create categories for your posts. Visitors can easily view posts by topics
Previous Post - Posts that you have previously posted.
Archive - List of all your Previous Posts
Permalinks - A permanent link to a page containing a specific blog rather than the blog continually changing front page.

Comments
Comments are where anyone who is viewing the blog can have their say. Some blogs are set so the owner of the blog views the comment before it is added. This then allows them to moderate the content of their blog.

Privacy
As with all content on the internet you must be careful about you privacy. Be aware that your blog is available to be read by anyone and so be careful about what personal information you place on your blog. You should also be aware of copyright issues and get the permission of others before posting their images.

Tutorials
Technorati tracks more than 70.4 million blogs
CoolCatTeacher
blogbasics Basic how to help
Microsoft How to help
Classroom Blog Basics

Blogs to visit
Heyjude Librarian Judy O'Connell's blog
A typical life Andrea Rennick keeping a blog about her family life since 1999.
My Technology Addictions My blog on my technology interests.
Mobile Technology in TAFE Sue Waters blog on Technology in TAFE
Creative Chick Fiber artist Susan Sorrell

Blog Search Engines
Google Blog Search
Technorati
Search4Blogs