Unit 1: What is Blogging?

Topic and Purpose

As technology advances, the use of it is being incorporated in classrooms lessons and environments more frequently. This lesson of the mini-course will review the background needed to understand the use and benefits of educational blogging.

Learning Objectives: Unit 1

• Learners will be able to define blogging and other associating terms and jargon
• Learners will learn the importance of reflection through blogging
• Learners will learn the importance of discussion through blogging

Lesson 1

Learning Objective

• Learners will be able to define blogging and other associating terms and jargon

Read

Before diving into learning about blogging, it is best to become familiar with ther vocabulary and terminology that goes along with it. Please read this article, A Glossary of Blogging Terms for Teachers and Students, that breaks down the most common terms and jargon associated with blogging and also this article, Introduction to Blogging, that goes more specifically into terms related to EduBlogs. These will help create great background information for you seeing as many of these terms will come up in articles we read and also on cites we will be working with.

Do

To start our process of learning about blogging, you will now have to sign up for your own blog through EDUBLOGS. Follow the following steps to signup for an EDUBLOG of your own:

Step 1: Go to EDUBLOGS

Step 2: In the right upper hand corner, select "Sign Up" in orange

Step 3: Enter a username, email address, and password in the first section

Step 4: In the second section for your blog, please name your blog with the first initial of your name and your full last name

       Ex. Jessica McHugh = JMcHugh (if your name is already taken, please add a number after your last name)

Step 5: You may create your blog title having to do with course, Introduction to Blogging

Step 6: Keep the language as English

Step 7: Set your blog type to teacher

Step 8: Enter the human verification code

Step 9: Click Start Blogging!

Reflect

Now that you have created an EduBlog of your own, you will now begin to use some of its features to reflect on the vocabulary and terms you have learned during this lesson. Please go to my blog, Intro to Blogging and reflect on these new terms by adding a comment at the end of my initial post. The following prompts will be found on my first post and you will be required to answer them based on three of the new vocabulary terms you have learned thus far.

• What is the term? State which word you have chosen and which article it came from
• What does the term mean? Provide a definition of the term in your own words
• Level of Familiarity? Have you heard this word before? Is it a brand new word? How familiar would you say you are with the word?
• Why might this term be useful in my learning about blogging? Explain why you think this word is associated and needed in the blogging field
• Do I think others should know this word? If so who and why?

Lesson 2

Learning Objectives

• Learners will learn the importance of reflection through blogging
• Learners will learn the importance of discussion through blogging

Read & Watch

Now that you are familiar with the terminology and vocabulary that are associated with blogging, please watch this VIDEO on the importance of discussions through blogging, and read both this article, Blogging For Reflection: The Use Of Online Journals To Engage Students In Reflective Learning, and this article, Using Blogs to Promote Reflective Language Learning, on the importance of reflection through blogging.

Do

In the DISCUSSION, respond to some or all of the following questions based on what you have read:

• How can discussions positively impact student engagement and understanding in a lesson?

• When holding discussions among peers, What are some similarities and differences between doing it face-to-face in a classroom and online via a blogging forum?

• Why is reflecting after learning a new concept important?

• Do you think reflecting can be done effectively through a blog? Why or why not?

Reflect Before moving onto Unit 2: Use of Blogging, begin to think about how you could use these ideas of discussions and reflections through blogs in your own classes? Are there some aspects of what you've learned you'd definitely use? Are there aspects of what you've learned that you'd definitely not use?

Naviagation

Move on to: Unit 2: Use of Blogging

Return to:Introduction to Blogging

Refereces

"A Glossary of Blogging Terms for Teachers and Students ~ Educational Technology and Mobile Learning." Educators Technology. N.p., 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 07 Nov. 2014.

"Introduction to Blogging." EduBlogs.org. Web.

Metaferia, Tekle Ferede. "Using Blogs to Promote Reflective Language Learning." Journal of Language and Culture 3.3 (2012):52-55. Academic Journals. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.

Muncy, James A. "Blogging For Reflection: The Use Of Online Journals To Engage Students In Reflective Learning." Marketing Education Review 24.2 (2014): 101-114. Business Source Premier. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.