Welcome to our class blog!
Welcome to blogging!
This is our class blog, we can use it for:
- exchanging information,
- for writing and improving writing
- learning how to write effective blog posts
- learning how to comment
- practise before getting your own blog
- providing evidence for your portfolio that can be part of your assessment
This first post aims to tell you a bit about blogging and also where to find a few of the things you need to know before you start to post or comment in this blog or any other blog.
What is a blog?
A blog is a sort of diary or journal. The big difference between a blog and a paper diary, or even one you keep on your computer is that other people can read what you write and can also add comments. Because what you write is public there are guidelines for suitable behaviour (see the “Our Guidelines” page to make sure you get it right when commenting or posting), some of these are summarised in the Wordle below
Class Blog – commenting
We start our blogging journey with this class blog. Firstly we will ask you to comment on this post. Many very well known and experienced bloggers say that the discussion that happens through the comments in the most important part of blogging, so being able to take part through commenting is very useful. Here are some ideas on how to make good comments from other class blogs:
- Huzzah! is a class of 10-11 year olds in Canada who have these commenting guidelines that they developed in class
- Scattergood Biology is a class blog for senior high school classes in Biology, their How to Post & Comment page has a very good section on commenting towards the bottom of the page including some suggested ways of starting responses.
At the end of the post are some questions to help you with comment ideas. There will be regular posts for you to comment on and soon you will be able to write your own posts on this class blog.
Your own blog – why have one?
Down the track (once you are OK with commenting and posting on the class blog) we plan to set you up with your own blog as part of the class group. Hopefully we will be taking part in the global Student Blogging Challenge run by Miss Wyatt in Tasmania – this will give you opportunities to connect with students worldwide and to have global visitors to your own blog. As a lecturer (teacher) I have a lot of reasons why I think it’s great for students of all ages to blog. Students also have reasons of their own – here is just one example of those reasons from a Year 9 high school student who has taken part in previous blogging challenges.
First activity – comment on this post
Your first blogging activity is to add your comments to this post. Your first comment does not have to be long – two or three sentences is fine but it can be longer if you want. Remember to check your spelling and grammar before posting. Some questions that might help you include:
- How has this post added to your understanding of blogs and what they can be used for?
- What did you find most useful in the post and why?
- Was the Wordle interesting/useful – why or why not?
- Did you like having the links to other blogs to visit – if so what did you like about that?
- What do you think about the blogging challenge – what do you think you might enjoy most about taking part and why?
Now it’s over to you – make your comment! Then look out for my reply.
March 17th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
This post has now shown me, about how to blog and why people do it. It seems to make things easier to read and understand, and you can do it in a fun way. As well as see other’s feedback.
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:46 am
this is an interesting and helpful page i now understand blogging more and it’s uses
March 23rd, 2010 at 10:32 am
Hello Rianna and Daniel
Well done it’s great to get our first comments from our students.
I hope you have both read the two blog posts on how to comment. You will find this useful when you visit other blogs and comment on them.
Jo
March 25th, 2010 at 9:32 am
it’s week 2 and all is well now i’m on the go with all my work this is easy as but at the same time there is something about paper work that would seem a lot easier to do then on the net, but i’ll get there.
March 26th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Hi Daniel
That’s a really interesting point Daniel. some people find it easier to do the writing on “real” paper and others find it easier to just type into the computer.
It will be interesting for you to read your comment again later and see if you are finding the online work easier when you have done more of it.
It would also be interesting to hear from other people about which they prefer.
Jo
March 29th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
This is a nice introduction to blogging. I like the idea that people can comment on what you write, this could be very useful for self development.
May 3rd, 2010 at 11:51 am
Well i’m getting there just a little bit more and i think i might be down just a few points though, now Jo was right it did get easier as i went and found all my work and it also helped that cause it was on the net i had all research and infomation i need right there, down side is that if you’re using an old or slow computer or network you’re going to have problems or if the system crashes you will not be doing any work that day but as systems improve so does the services and options avalible.
June 8th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
I definitely found this post useful. I liked the wordle as it is a quick way to double check everything is in order.
I love the idea of visiting other blogs and reading what they have to say as well as creating my own. The Blogging challenge sounds like a lot of fun also.
August 11th, 2010 at 11:13 am
I think that blogging is a good, efficient way to communicate. I find this because the reply form is easy to find and fill out and it doesn’t take long to fill out your reply which means that you can post your thoughts and comments in no time
September 10th, 2010 at 11:52 am
I think that blogging is a good way to comunicate but not for everyone. I like the fact that you can talk to anyone, witch is pretty cool.
September 13th, 2010 at 10:57 am
I like how blogging works and the fact you can write about anything, its quick easy and affective.