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Objective
Understanding the value of weblogs, how to find them and how to start one
Instructions
Have students read the following article:
Of Blogs and Bloggers [https://websitebuilders.com/how-to/blog/]
Discussion
- What is a blog?
- How is a blog different from a website?
- What kinds of subjects do bloggers write about?
- How can you find blogs that interest you?
- How do you start your own blog?
- Are there any dangers to blogging?
Activities
- Use a search engine to locate a blog of interest to the class. Show students how a blog is structured.
- Using free online tools, such as Blogger.com or WordPress.com, you can establish a blog for your class. Decide what the subject will be, how often new entries will post to the blog and who will provide the content. This can become an ongoing class activity.
Discussion Guide
- What is a blog?
Weblogs, commonly referred to as blogs, are similar to an electronic journal or diary. The writer, known as a blogger, makes periodic entries, sometimes as frequently as a few times a day.
- How is a blog different from a website?
What distinguishes a blog from other online publications is the periodic updates, usually displayed on the homepage in reverse chronological order: new entries appear at the top of the page and older ones are archived according to date. Ask your students for other ways blogs are different from websites.
- What kinds of subjects do bloggers write about?
Blogs can be on any subject. Discuss with your students the subjects of blogs they have read, or ask them to imagine a blog subject that would interest them.
- How can you find blogs that interest you?
You can use online search tools to find blogs, including search engines like Google or a blog directory.
- How do you start your own blog?
You can start a blog for free by using a service such as WordPress.com or Blogger.com. Discuss with your students other possible ways of starting a blog, and what else might be involved (such as choosing a name and topic, writing on a regular schedule, etc.).
- Are there any dangers to blogging?
Remember that anything you write is public, so it’s important to be mindful of what you say.
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