Getting Started with Blogs and Wikis

Library LunchablesJuly 2009

Blogs• Online, chronological collection of personal

commentary and links– allows users to post their thoughts and comments to a

web site for others to read and respond too– frequently updated– usually intended for general public consumption

• Personal diaries to editorials on specific topics

Blogs• Use for:

– connect course materials to current events– evaluate different perspectives– reflective writing/journaling

• record and share experiences • personal reflection about classes, careers or current

events– citizen journalism

Blogs• Use for:

– project blog to keep track of project/dialogue for group work

– assignment submission and peer review– capture and disseminate student- or faculty-generated

content– post instructional tips for students

Blogs• Blogs in Plain English (video)

http://www.commoncraft.com/blogs • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnploFsS_tY

(How to Create a Blog w/ Blogger.com)• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnzlOYaeOwU

(How to Post a Video to your Blog w/ Blogger.com)

Blogs• Tools:

– Journal LX (in Blackboard)– Edublogs

http://www.edublogs.org/ – Blogger

http://www.blogger.com/ – WordPress

http://wordpress.com/

Blogs• Selecting the Right Tool

– What experience do you want your students to have?– Who should see the blogs?– How long will the blogs continue?

• You need to create a Google account.

• You can use any email address to create a Google account.

• You can create multiple blogs under one account.

https://www.blogger.com/start

Once you create a Google account, you can link to other Google services.

Take your time naming the blog and its url.

• Tabs lead to areas where you customize your blog.• Go through all of the settings for each tab.• Under the settings tab, you can delete your blog.

• The theme provides distinct page elements.

• Under the layout tab, you can choose new template.

• You can delete or add sections easily.

Content on posts could be text, pictures, and/or videos.

You can always edit published posts.

• http://fscblogworkshop.blogspot.com/

• Check your posts before you log out.

Wikis• Web page that can be viewed and modified by

anybody• Collaborative space to create and disseminate

original knowledge– Versioning can show thought process

• Provide practical experience for students in collaborating in a networked environment

Wikis• Use for:

– Collaborative learning– Knowledge construction

• FAQs, Annotated Bibliography, Group Summary

– Critical thinking• What If Scenarios, Case Studies, Debates, Evaluations

– Contextual application• Process Map, Field Research Project

Source: Using Wikis for Online Collaboration

Wikis• Use for:

– data collection– collaboration on group projects– group research projects– brainstorming concept maps/research topics– create shared, online resources– peer review/editing tool

Wikis• Use for:

– project planning– test review/study guides– build annotated bibliography– create a glossary of common terms– summarize thoughts on a reading– build a questionnaire

Wikis• Wikis in Plain English (video)

http://www.commoncraft.com/video-wikis-plain-english

• PB Works Educator Forumhttp://educatorforum.pbworks.com/headlines/

Wikis• Tools:

– Teams LX (in Blackboard)– Wikispaces

http://www.wikispaces.com/ – PB Works

http://pdworks.com – Zoho Wiki

http://wiki.zoho.com/

Wikis• Selecting the Right Tool

– What experience do you want your students to have?– Who should see the wikis?– How long will the wikis continue?

Consider how you name your wiki.

http://usermanual.pbworks.com/ and http://pbworks.com/content/supportcenter