6 months ago I had no idea what a blog was or why anyone would want to use one.
A blog in its simplest form is like a web-based journal, only it's one that can't be lost or left at home. It's definitely multi-media since teachers and students can add images and sound files. They can also be used to point to an ever increasing amount of online video content. Best of all, teachers don't need to drag them around the school in bags and bundles. They are more confidential than a journal (which may be misplaced) since bloggers are able to determine exactly who views them.
But that's my view. Have a look at what a couple of our students have said:
Matt Brockwell
Max Krawec
So the links above point to the blogs where students do their work. I can read their work and leave comments, or I can actually highlight specific areas and leave post-it notes on their work. More about that later.
All the students' blogs show up in a nice convenient list for me (the photo above). I can see who has updated recently and who might be falling behind. I use a blog of my own creation for each of my classes. So students make blogs and teachers make blogs. If you can use email, you can maintain a course blog. I spend less time now getting materials together for absent students than I ever have before. I love the fact that making all the information students need available on a course "website" transfers ownership and accountability for their success to them.
I am not suggesting that 100% of any course should be delivered through a blog. We still do discussions, debates, lessons and seminars. I simply use my course blogs to communicate like an enhanced blackboard--one that parents can access. Here is a blog that Cam and I put together at Summer School . Here's Mr. MacDonald's.
SO... enjoy some time to just start playing with Blogger. If you are interested in creating your own blog, have a look at the next post.
