Functionality of a Blog

A blog is a type of website or part of a website. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Blogging can also share and communicate with others ar0und the world, by posting comments, this information can be used as "we can know our weaknesses and our talents. Blogging is an opportunity to exchange our point of view with the rest of the world not just people in our immediate environment.

Henry Farrell identifies five major uses for blogs in education, these are:

1. Replace the standard web page. Instructors post class times and rules, assignment notifications, suggested readings, and exercises. The instructor, however, finds that the use of blogging software makes this previously odious chore much simpler.
2. Instructors begin to link to Internet items that relate to their course.
3. Blogs are used to organize in class discussions.
4. Using blogs to organize class seminars and to provide summaries of readings
5. Students may be asked to write their own blogs as part of their course grade

You can read more on Henry Farrell by going to this link:

http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERM0450.pdf


As a Learning Manager, using a blog in the classroom will enable me to further my progression in technology but will hopefully ensure my students success in learning new digital tools for their next 'technological stage'.

References:

Wikipedia.org. (2010). Wikipedia.org:blog Retrieved on 1st August, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog

Downes, S. (2004). Educational blogging. New Brunswick, Canada: Educause Review