Blogging in the Classroom

Blogs are used in the classroom primarily as a literacy tool; writing becomes more motivating, creative, and interesting for students. But blogs are widely used across the curriculum as well. A blog (short for “web log”) is traditionally a replacement for a journal, but it can also be much more—from a class discussion board, to a writing workshop feedback center, to an online class magazine. A blog is essentially a web page, so it’s what you make of it. Like a web page, you can upload different kinds of media (audio, video, images, links) and really get creative.

For help and ideas on how to use blogging in the classroom, see the resources listed below.

Teachers Network Resources
Be sure to watch our Blogging video featured on the main menu. In this video, a teacher creates a class blog, also incorporating online writing tools and a wiki.

A How-To on Blogging in the Classroom http://teachersnetwork.org/ntol/howto/incorptech/blogging.htm

Journaling with Technology
http://teachersnetwork.org/ntol/howto/incorptech/journaling.htm

Curriculum Units using Blogs in the Classroom
Blogging with Students:
http://teachersnetwork.org/grantteachnet/registration/grantsDetail.cfm?recordID=60

Bringing Cultures Together: http://www.teachersnetwork.org/teachnetnyc/cgersh/culture.htm

Interactive Character Journals: http://www.teachersnetwork.org/readysettech/earley

Writing through Digital Photography: http://www.teachersnetwork.org/teachnetnyc/hruan/click.htm

More on the Web
Blogger: http://www.blogger.com

A Blogger “tech-torial”: http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial037.shtml

EduBlogs: http://www.edublogs.org

Word Press: http://www.wordpress.com

Sandy Scragg ’s Blogging Workshop: http://sandyscragg.com/blogs

Nancy Brodsky’s teacher blog: http://upthedownstaircase.typepad.com

East Side Community High School's student blog: http://www.nycwp.org/eschs2009

Paul Allison’s blog: http://www.nycwp.org/paulallison

Weblogs in Education: http://newsletter.nitle.org/v2_n1_winter2003/features_weblogs.php

The educated blogger: http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue9_6/huffaker/index.html

Writing with Weblogs: http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2003/02/blogs.html

Starting an Education Blog:
http://www.jonathanbriggs.com/articles/workshop in education logging,337,BA.html

10 Tips for a Better Weblog: http://www.rebeccablood.net/essays/ten_tips.html