Blogging

**Definition:**
"A frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links. A blog is often a mixture of what is happening in a person's life and what is happening on the Web, a kind of hybrid diary/guide site, although there are as many unique types of blogs as there are people. People maintained blogs long before the term was coined, but the trend gained momentum with the introduction of automated published systems, most notably Blogger at [|blogger.com]." ([|Sturges, 2005])

While this is fairly typical definition, blogs in education can take a different approach. Will Richardson (2006), writes about the differences between what is blogging and what is not, as it relates to the classroom.

1) Posting assignments (Not blogging) 2) Journaling, i.e., "This is what I did today." (Not blogging) 3) Posting links. (Not blogging) 4) Links with descriptive annotation, i.e., "This site is about ...." (Not really blogging either, but getting close depending on the depth of description) 5) Links with analysis that gets into the meaning of the content being linked (A simple form of blogging) 6) Reflective, metacognitive writing or practice without links. (Complex writing, but simple blogging, I think. Commenting would probably fall in here somewhere) 7) Links with analysis and synthesis that articulate a deeper understanding or relationship to the content being linked and written with potential audience response in mind. (Real blogging) 8) Extended analysis and synthesis over a longer period of time that builds on previous posts, links and comments. (Complex blogging). ([|Richardson, 2005, p. 32])

Examples:
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 * [|Kathy Cassidy's Classroom (Grades 1&2)] - Moose Jaw, SK
 * [|Bud The Teacher] - Longmont, Colorado
 * [|Darren Kuropatwa] - Winnipeg, Manitoba
 * BIG Wikied List of Educational Blogs

Sample Tools:
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 * [|Blogger.com]
 * [|Wordpress.com]
 * [|Edublogs.org]
 * [|Blogmeister]