Media: Text, with embedded video, audio, photos
Uses: Updates from the classroom, professional reflection, writing assignment for students, etc.
Examples: Carlton blogs (subject-area school blogs), dy/dan (math education), John Spencer (musings on education), History Tech (resource sharing), Avenue4Learning (professional reflection), The Daedalus Project (classroom updates)
How: There are a number of blogging services out there: WordPress (and education-focused offshoot Edublogs), Google’s Blogger, and others. Sign up for one, choose a template/theme and start writing! If you want to have complete control over your blog, buy a domain name and hosting service and install WordPress on your own space. You will be able to add plugins and themes that aren’t available with the free offerings, and you can host files (like podcasts) on your own space.
Why: Blogs are great for embedding other kinds of media for if you want to explain or contextualize a video or podcast. They also generate Rich Site Summary (RSS) feeds that readers can subscribe to, in order to be notified of new content. An RSS symbol (
) shows readers that you intend to have continuously updating content for them to interact with.
Notes:
- Most blogs by default, allow readers to comment on your posts. This isn’t usually an issue, but keep it in mind if you’re posting about in-school events or classroom projects. Check back on the post regularly to see if any comments need to be addressed. Alternately, set up your blog to email you every time someone leaves a comment so that you can stay on top of them.
Header image credit: Caution: Blog Ahead by Mixy Lorenzo