Blogs!!! Whaddya Reckon?

I have been trying to get my head around "blogs" for AGES!  I have always wondered what the difference between a blog and website was.  I finally get it!  Oversimplifying, the main difference is that a blog contains (usually) one authors thoughts, opinions or content that visitors can comment on.

I've never been keen on keeping a blog but in the words of Matt Mullenweg "the word blog has gone from... personal journals... to a more interesting website". Listen to his thoughts below...

Video: Courtesy of dotblog

As you can see, I am now expertly, confidently, authoring my very own blog. And it looks amazing (sarcasm just does not translate on a blog)!

I can see the value in having a classroom blog.  I picture me writing a post after a lesson to reiterate, restate or show in another way key points and ask for student input to what they viewed as the most interesting, confusing, conflicting or boring parts of the lesson.  Also a space to seek clarification if they need.  I think that gives students who may like to learn more or revise content an extra place to do so.



I am mindful that proportions of students will not want to do any work outside of class.  The challenge then is to make a blog that is interesting, may incorporate humour or is accessed in class time.  Being able to embed funny cartoons or videos is a plus for blogs.