Weblog and Blogs

The weblog or blog has become a very popular medium of communication worldwide. A blog is simply a website in which an individual posts journal entries on a regular basis. As a conversational style of documentation, the blog entries often comprise of text, hypertext, images and links to other web pages and resources such as audio and video. A feature of a blog is that the entries are displayed in reverse chronological order (newest first) and archived according to preset criteria; for example, on a monthly basis.

A common strategy of schools, particularly in the USA, is to provide individual weblogs for each student in a class as well as the teacher. In this way, students are able to post their journal entries and the teacher is able to add comments and responses. For schools, such weblogs may either be located on a school-based Intranet or the Internet.

Video on weblogs

Watch on-line this short video on "Weblogs in Education" from Will Richardson, an educator based at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington, New Jersey, USA.

If RSS feeds are published from each weblog (see below), all of the student's work, subject developments or developments across schools can be aggregated to form a single resource, constantly evolving and providing a record of activities. An example of developments across schools is the Primary School Blogs and Radcliffe Riverside School in Manchester, UK is a good example of weblogs on various subject developments and topics.

Some of the examples of class/school approaches are the weblogs you can see at:

Sandaig Primary School, in Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Willowdale Elementary School in Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Room 208 at Wells Elementary School in Maine, USA
Berkhampstead Collegiate Preparatory School, Herfordshire, UK

The same approach has been used extensively by teachers and other educational professionals to share ideas and promote educational debate. Examples include David Warlick, based in North Carolina, USA and David Muir at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow in Scotland, UK.

Making use of blogs and other Web 2.0 technologies can enhance and enrich the learning environments and communities for children, young people and educational professionals alike. Our e-Learning Blog: Anytime, Anywhere Learners explores some of the topical innovations and issues from an educational perspective.

You can also see our other weblog with all the latest news about "Podcasts for Educators".

Thursday, 2nd September 2010

Russell Educational Consultancy and Productions