Blog+Resources

toc = Blogilicious!!!! =

Weebly Directions
[|Crefeld's Teaching Social Responsibility Blog]


 * Download this User's Guide for easy posting to Weebly:**

What is a blog?
A blog is an online journal of sorts. Some people post daily information, some rant about an issue that bothers them, others aim their blogs at a particular audience or topic. Blogs allow you to embed any type of media, including images, videos, links to other web sites and blogs, and even sound files.

Blogs in Plain English
Video from [|Common Craft], Time 3:01 media type="youtube" key="NN2I1pWXjXI" height="344" width="425"

Anatomy of a Blog
Most blogs include a main home page, a permalink for each entry, an avatar (sometimes), and a blog roll.

Click on Anatomy of a Blog to learn about the parts of a blog.

A Word About Cyber Safety
When setting up your own blog, it is important to keep in mind these tips:
 * Remember that the internet is public...what you post can be ready by ANYONE, no matter how private you make your page.


 * Do NOT post your LAST name, your schedule, where you can be found, or any personal information about yourself.


 * You DO leave a DIGITAL FOOTPRINT behind on the WWW. This means that where you go can be tracked now and years from now. Be proud of what you post. Choose your words carefully. Represent yourself in a postive light.


 * Use an email account that does NOT identify you personally. I personally use a gmail account that does not have my name on the account. In addition, I have a "pen name" on my blog ([|Techbabble]), instead of using my real identity. This protects my digital footprint.

Blog Search Engines
Have you ever heard the expression "There is a lid to every pot?" Well, "there is a blog for every pot, too! " Use these search engines to find the best blogs that the WWW has to offer. [|Technorati]

[|Google Blog Search]

[|Blogdigger]

Google Account
Get a google account so that you have access to "google docs", "google readers", and a generic account that does not have your last name on it. This way, you can sign up for anything online and not leave a digital trail.

[|Google Gmail Account](email)

[|Turn on Google Reader]: Once you have a google account, you can "turn on" the **reader** feature, which allows you to collect blogs via RSS (real simple syndication) in your reader. Turn on your reader by clicking on the "reader" link from the igoogle home page. You may have to click the link called "more" at the top of the page and select reader.

[[image:rss.jpg width="287" height="225" align="right"]]RSS Feeds
Click RSS Feeds to learn about how to set up a Google Reader to collect blogs that interest you!

Free Blog Spaces
[|Edublogger]

[|Blogger]

[|Wordpress]

[|Typepad]

[|Weebly]

Feed Your Reader: Sample Educational Blogs
[|Free Technology for Teachers] a review of free technology resources and how teachers can use them [|Best Educational Blogs, from Edublogs] Edublogs features the best of educational blogs annually--this is the 2008 listing [|Infinite Thinking Machine] a k-12 blog, sharing and discussion learning ideas for the 21st Century [|Author, Lois Lowry] It's fun to follow a favorite author... [|2 Cents Worth], Teaching and learning in the new information landscape -- a blog by tech ed guru, David Warlick [|Dan's Science Class] Crefeld's own Dan Cunitz science blog [|TechBabble] Sarah Blattner's blog about technology integration and cool Web 2.0 tools

Blog Challenge
Take the 31-day blog challenge, improving your own blogging capabilities.