Blogs

What is a blog?
A blog is a website that displays content in chunks. These chunks, called posts are recorded chronologically. The posts are displayed to readers in reverse chronological order, with the newest content read first. The word blog is a short version of the phrase web log. There are blogs about every subject and interest you can think of. Many people use blogs in the same way journals and diaries are used. They boomed in popularity in the late 1990's due to the proliferation of easy to use blogging publishers.

What is the purpose of a blog?
Generally speaking the purpose of a blog is to give out content in chunks (called posts), recorded chronologically, with the readers seeing the newest content first.

2 Examples of using a blog:

1. As a preschool teacher my students are not ready to read or write a blog yet. However a blog would be useful as a tool to communicate what is going on in our classroom with my student's parents. I could post upcoming events, and reminders of things to bring in. I could also update the blog with what we are learning in the upcoming weeks, and some things they can do at home to support their learning. 
2. I can use a blog as a professional development tool. I can use it as a place to reflect on what i have been doing in the classroom. To collect and post activities and other tools I want to use and try. I can also use it as a way to connect to other educators and share ideas.           

What are the benefits of a blog?

• There are a myriad of benefits to using a blog. For the writer of a blog, it is a reliable, relatively easy way to get the information you want out to a large audience. Modern blogging tools make it easy for anyone with relatively basic knowledge of internet use to publish content on the web. 
• For readers, blogs give you shorter more concise chunks of information. They are usually easy to navigate and search, and you get to see the most current information first. 

What are the drawbacks of a blog?

• Blogs are generally a publicly viewed medium, which in the field of education may pose some problems when it comes to confidentiality, students taking part, and displaying work. Teachers should ensure that they comply with any acceptable use policy, and that it is conveyed clearly to students. Parents should also be consulted and permission needs to be granted when students are involved (Keesee). 
• Blogs are also time consuming. To be most effective, blogs need to be updated regulary which can take up time, something that is always in short supply.

Keesee, Gayla. "Blogs in Education." Teaching and Learning Resources /. Teachinglearningresources.pbworks.com. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.