A blog (a blend of the term web log) is a type of website or part of a website. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
Most blogs are interactive, allowing visitors to leave comments and even message each other via widgets on the blogs and it is this interactivity that distinguishes them from other static websites.
Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability of readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art, photographs, videos, music and audio . Micro blogging is another type of blogging, featuring very short posts.

Nowadays the most effective way to share your thoughts and opinion is to create your own weblog a.k.a blog. But how to start your own blog? Fortunately, starting a blog site is an easy task.
• You do not need to know anything about web development to start blogging: you can create and manage your blog site using some of the free blog tools that are available

References:
http://en.wikipediawiki/Blog
http://sitegroundtutorials/blog/

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Blogging
Twenty Reason WHY Blogging
• It is FUN! Fun!….. However, it is wonderful when students think they are having so much fun, they forget that they are actually learning. It’s great when kids get so caught up in things they forget they’re even learning.
• Authentic audience – no longer working for a teacher who checks and evaluates work but a potential global audience.
• Suits all learning styles.
• Increased motivation for writing – all students are happy to write and complete aspects of the post topic. Many will add to it in their own time.
• Increased motivation for reading.
• Improved confidence levels – a lot of this comes through comments and global dots on their cluster maps. Students can share their strengths and upload areas of interest or units of work, personal digital photography, their pets, hobbies etc Staff are given an often rare insight into what some students are good at. We find talents that were otherwise unknown and it allows us to work on those strengths. It allows staff to often gain insight to how students are feeling and thinking.
• Pride in their work. Publishing Practice.
• Blogs allow text, multimedia, widgets, audio and images – all items that digital natives want to use.
• Increased proofreading and validation skills.
• Improved awareness of possible dangers that may confront them in the real world. Internet safety.
• Ability to share – part of the conceptual revolution that we are entering. They can share with each other, staff, their parents, the community, and the globe.
• Mutual learning between students and staff and students.
• Blogs may be used for digital portfolios.
• Parents with internet access can view their child’s work and writings – an important element in the parent partnership with the classroom.
• Work is permanently stored, easily accessed and valuable comparisons can be made over time for assessment and evaluation purposes.
• Students are digital natives - blogging is a natural element of this.
• Gives students a chance to show responsibility and trustworthiness and engenders independence.
• Prepares students for digital citizenship as they learn cybersafety.
• Fosters peer to peer mentoring. Students are happy to share, learn from and teach their peers (and this, often not their usual social groups)
• Allows student led professional development.
• Students set the topics for posts – leads to deeper thinking activities
How Are Teachers Using Blogs??
To Name A FEW…………………………..
Literature Circles
• Writing
• Mathematics
• Book Studies
• Journals
• Science logs
• Whole Class Blogs
• Student created Blogs
• Technology Standards
Just a Few Blog Ideas
• Mr. C’s Blog
• Making Movies
• Keene Blogs
• Science
• English Class
• Write Out Loud
• Book Chats
• Technology
• Math Homework Help
• Teacher/Class Blog
• Math Blog
Student Blogs or Class Blogs
• Class Blogs are a great way to get started and have students make comments on posts.
• Students blogs are ideal once you have taught the students how to do one. You may want to start with a class blog then move onto student centered once they get the idea.
What You Will Need To Teach
• How to Publish/Post
• How to create a blog using Blog Spot
• How to navigate a blog using Blog Spot
• What is internet safety
• What is school appropriate
• Rules
• Expectations