Blogs and MFL

1. SETTING UP A BLOG – BLOGGING & MFL 31 st October 2007 – St Ivo School Rob Chambers - St Ivo School [email_address]

3. What is a blog? “ A blog (short for web log) is a website where entries are written in chronological order and displayed in reverse chronological order.” (Source: Wikipedia) http://teachable.org/images/blog_cartoon.gif Blogs are interactive websites (visitors can leave comments). You can set up a blog within seconds and updating them is quick and easy. Blogs do not require knowledge of html to write, in fact they are not dissimilar to the time and knowledge required to write an email! These websites and any changes made are viewed instantly and links and downloadable resources can easily be added. Blogs may consist of anything, from specific niche blogs about specific areas of interest to general thoughts and ideas that people which to share.

4. Source: http://www.sifry.com/alerts/archives/000436.html

5. The Benefits of having a blog Source: V Vannet – “A blogs not just for Christmas” – www.ablogsnotjustforchristmas.blogspot.com ” Set homework on-line Link to & network with other schools Enhancing Learning and Teaching Follow up information from lessons Communicate when students are away Encourage further research Create a link with home for parents Post reminders e.g. dates Fieldtrip follow up and photos

6. www.geobytesgcse.blogspot.com www.geobytesadvancedextension.blogspot.com www.geoblogbytes.wordpress.com www.igeog.wordpress.com Using Blogs as part of the GeoBytes Portal …

7. “ Unlike the formal use of email, the blog is easy to access through the schools website and allows you to view other peoples questions and answers that you wouldn’t get in another form. It is a great way for students to share their enthusiasm, learn from each other as well as receiving additional guidance they may need from the teacher.” Amy “ I think the blog has been really useful as well - I agree - it’s nice to be able to view everyone else's questions and if it is checked it often is more convenient and quicker than email. It’s also a good motivator!” Megan Getting Feedback… So what do the students think? “ the blog rocks its an easy way to find all the info you need and if everyone has the same question ony one person needs to answer it and everyone gets a response and its just different from reading other our notes over and over” Fi

8. Setting up your own Blog… For the greatest flexibility it is possible to host blogs on your own webspace or pay for access to more advanced blogging facilities (e.g. www.typepad.com) – however there are many great free blogging services available which are widely used by teachers and require very little technological knowledge! In fact you can literally set a blog up in 5 minutes! http://www.xanga.com/ http://www.wordpress.com http://www.livejournal.com www.blogger.com http://www.myblogsite.com / http://spaces.live.com/