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Commimications-Google Blogger

Page history last edited by Sam Moore 12 years ago

*Image provided by: http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=google+blogger&hl=en&biw=1821&bih=752&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=aKjm6OoU21m-DM:&imgrefurl=http://smartjean4u.deviantart.com/art/Google-Blogger-Wallpaper-

What is Google Blogger?

First off, what is a BLOG? Blog is short for Web Log; people can create blogs for several different reasons from personal journaling to sharing and collaborating on ideas for work or school. For our purposes, we will be discussing blogging in the scope of its use as a Web 2.0 Tool for educating studens. We will be looking a particular website that teachers can use to get their students blogging; Google Blogger is a free blogging site created and housed by Google. Through Google Blogger you can create posts to recap the events of your day, share information with friends or even video. Through Google Blogger, you not only have the option to change fonts, colors and layouts, but you are also capable of posting photos, videos, and sound clips or even create a podcast. This site can be beneficial for those who want to write for recreation, those who want to share information about their business, or those who want to create a fun and creative learning enviornment for their students. Through Google Blogger individuals have the option to host blogs on their own or with multiple contributors, making group work a much more simple task.

Tutorial for Self-Directed Learning

*Video provided by: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA4s3wN_vK8

To create a page on Google Blogger you first have to have an active email address that will serve as your sign in information and you will be required to create a password and a display name. Your display name will be what other Blogger users we'll see and refer to you as, it is what keeps you somewhat anonymous on the site, which is important when protecting the privacy of your students. You will also be asked for your date of birth and to read and accept the terms of use.

Next you will be asked to create a name for your blog such as, "Lindsay and Sammy's Awesome ET Blog" and you will also be asked to create a blog address such as "http://lindsayandsammysawesomeetblog.blogspot.com."

After you have named your blog you will select a starter template, this will give your blog a unique look and feel and you can always change it later one, this is one way that Google Blogger allows it's users to personalize their writing space. After you have selected your template, your blog is all ready for use! You can either begin posting entries or continue to personalize the style of your blog.

Adding videos to your blog is really simple, you simply go to create a new blog and click the icon that looks like a black and white movie clacker. From there you can add a video from your computer, from your phone or from YouTube. Adding a picture to your blog is just as simple, click the icon that looks like a landscape and then you have the option to upload a photo from your phone, computer or a URL address.

Commenting on other blogger's posts is also extremely easy, under a completed post, it provides a link stating how many comments have been made. If you click that link you will be directed to a page where you have the option to create and leave your own comment. This allows collaboration and discussion to be easily attainable while on your blog.

Here are a couple of blogs that Sammy and I set up to become familiar with Google Blogger:

Lindsay's Blog=http://huliganjetta5364.blogspot.com/

As you can see, photos and videos have been uploaded on this blog, and it has been created to match Lindsay's unique personality and style.

If you go to the comments section on the entry entitled, "Gogol Bordello!! Such a strange video...AND I LOVE IT!" you can see a comment that Sammy has left me, which fosters

communication between the two of us, even on a blog.

Sammy's Blog= http://samalaamaabroad73.blogspot.com/

Sammy's blog also shows her unique style and is tailored to her personal interests, which as of now is travelling and experiencing new things, as she is studying abroad in Norway.

Examples of how it Aides Teaching/Learning in English/Communications Content

http://www.google.com/educators/p_blogger.html

This website briefly explains several ways that Google Blogger can be used by both teachers and students in the classroom. For example, in English/Communications, teachers can use Google Blogger to assign students writing assignments (ie: reflections) that can be published online and critiqued and reviewed by other students. English and Communications students can use Google Blogger to work collaboratively, communicate ideas and notes with their peers, practice their writing skills, and become familiar with online publishing.

http://www.knewton.com/blog/edtech/2011/02/06/how-to-use-blogs-in-your-english-classes/

This website offers "A 7-Step Plan for Using Blogs in English Classes". The author suggests seven steps that English and Communications teachers can use to implement blogging into their lessons. Some of the steps include, "Start with an assignment that works as an old-fashioned English paper", "Get those comments rolling", and "Encourage discussions between assignments". This website is a definitely a guide for English/Communications teachers who would like to start using blogging as a Web 2.0 Tool in their classrooms.

http://www.charlesyoungs.com/images/Blogging_in_English_-_Honors_Permit_2007.pdf

This website is an example of how blogs can be used in English/Communications classrooms. It explains what blogs are, how they can be used, and what the conditions are for using blogs in an educational setting. This website could be a great resource for English/Communications teachers who are thinking of incorporating blogging into their classes.

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/articles/blogging-elt

This website is one for English teachers to use as a guide to using blogs in the classroom. The website explains what blogs are, how they can be used by English and Communications teachers, and even has examples of different blogs being used by teachers. The website also describes potential pitfalls in using educational blogs, and provides links to further reading on how to incorporate blogs into the English/Communications classroom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu6ww1UWpik

This is a link to a video where a discussion is held about using blogging in English and Communications classrooms. In the video, a lesson is presented about how to integrate blogs into English instruction. In two parts, the lesson discusses how to use blogs in secondary English classes, and gives specific and usable real-life examples for teachers to use in their classrooms. It is an excellent resource for English/Communications teachers who are interested in integrating blogs into their classes.

Examples of how Google Blogger Can be Used to Aid Teachers in Other Contents/Needs

http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Campbell-Weblogs.html

This website discusses the various uses of blogs in an ELL/ESL Classroom. Aaron Patric Campbell discusses three different types of blogs, including Tutor Blog, Learner Blog, and Class Blog that can be used to aide students in their studies of English. Blogs can be adapted for several purposes, and this website explains to ELL/ESL teachers how to implement blogging to enhance student learning.

http://www.teachscienceandmath.com/2010/08/11/to-blog-or-not-to-blog-in-science-or-math-class/

This website discusses the use of blogs in science and math content classrooms. The author explains the advantages of blogging to not only the teacher but the students as well. For example, in creating a class blog, the teacher can close it from the public and have complete control over what is going on within the blog. The teacher can post materials, communicate with the students, and monitor their progress through the blog. For the students, using blogs can be very advantageous because the students can collaborate with each other and share ideas, along with learning from each other, they can access their "class" from almost anywhere (home, library, cellphone), and students can develop self-confidence as to their ability to learn science and math. The site then goes on to list examples of science and math blogs, and further resources for teachers to use when thinking of using blogging in their math or science classrooms.

http://teachinghistory.org/teaching-materials/teaching-guides/22261

This article, written by Kyle Smith, an educator from Superior, Wisconsin, describes how History content teachers can incorporate blogs into their teaching. First, he explains how teachers need to prepare to teach using blogs, including what blogs there are to choose from, and how to set up a class blog. He then explains that teachers can use blogs to post readings for the students to read, reflect, and comment on. Teachers can also post historical images or documents, and even historical podcasts for the students to listen to online. Smith also lists some prompts that can be used during blog discussion, and warnings for teachers about possible pitfalls of using blogging. The article is wrapped up by providing links so that teachers can further their understanding, and reminding teachers of the importance of protecting the identities of the students while they are blogging online.

http://theedublogger.com/check-out-these-class-blogs/

This website, the EDUBLOGGER, compiles several different eucational blogs that teachers can look at to get ideas about blogging with their own classes. There are blogs listed on the website for content areas such as math, science, history, English, ELL, school news, and even library blogs. From this website, teachers can look at several different blogs within their content areas to get ideas about how to implement educational blogging in their classes. It can be a very valuable resource for teachers who are just starting out with blogs.

http://www.openeducation.net/2008/10/10/using-blogs-to-enhance-learning-–-some-helpful-tips/

This website reinforces the importance of using Blogging (as well as other Web 2.0 Tools) effectively; the technology should be used to enhance learning and engage students, but if it is not being used appropriately, it is considered by the students to be just another task to complete. The article goes on to explain that blogging can "enhance the ability of students to self-reflect and process concepts", but explains that teachers must be teaching concepts that must need to be reflected upon for the blogs to be effective. Blogs are individualized tools for learners that teachers can use to monitor and comment on student work ("proper feedback at relevant times"). The author states, "Blogs can be the catalyst that has students analyzing and synthesizing course materials. With proper planning and appropriate curriculum, individual students may also use a blog to find ways to apply new ideas".

In this article, educator Brenda Dyck discusses her experience with blogging in the classroom. She explains how she used blogging with her students during an Eleanor Rigby project on homelessness; the students' use of blogging during the project helped them to communicate their ideas after class lecture, and to practice their writing and reflective skills. Dyck goes on to explain how to assess students on their blogs, and offers further web links about using blogging in the classroom.