What are Blogs

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What are Blogs?

• Blogs resemble an electronic diary in which one
  views the dated entries in reverse chronological
  order, with the latest entry first.
• Blog entries differ from traditional diaries
  because they are web pages, and thus accommodate
  a variety of electronic elements, like links to
  other web sites.
• Blogs allow readers to leave public comments to
  selected blog entries.

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Why are blogs important?

• It is the first time that people with limited
  technical experience are able to communicate
  their thoughts and ideas to a world-wide audience
  with ease.
• Blogging and its variants, pod-casting and
  vloging (video logging), are shaking up the
  otherwise corporate-dominated media outlets,
  because the source of information is no longer
  centralized and controllable
• Trent Lott example

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(Some) Types of Blogs

• Editorial
• Journal
• Commentary
• Technical
• Geographic
• Informational
• Photography
• Special interest

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Educational Objectives of Blogging

• To read and synthesize information from one or
  more media source, or
• reflect on and analyze information or
  experiences, or
• organize information or artistic artifacts, and
• concisely yet effectively communicate
  perspectives, information, or artwork, and
• effectively identify evidence and background
  information to support their ideas, and.
• to develop a distinctive voice on the Internet.

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Legal/Ethical Issues

• Do not mention names of individuals who are not
  public personalities.
• Do not attack other people.
• Intellectual property rights must be strictly
  observed.
• Do not employ fallacious argument tactics.(Refer
  back to fallacies learned during FYS)
• Note questionable and biased sources.
• Publish facts that you believe to be true only.
• Link to any online sources used.
• Disclose any conflicts of interest.

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Blogging Circles

• Loosely inspired by literature circles.
• Groups of students with similar blogging
  interests.
• Provides an audience for each blogger.
• Students should employ critical thinking/ peer
  review skills when commenting on blog entries.

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Evaluating Blogs

• Regular postings
• Quality synthesis of information
• Quality analysis
• Effective blog entry (concise, well worded, well
  formatted)
• Proper netiquette followed
• Thoughtful comments in blog circle
• Appropriate response to comments

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Issues to be Considered

• Extending netiquette guidelines.
• Keeping obscene spam from blog entries.
• Anonymity of blog/web pages.
• Other fair-use issues?
• Excellent resource
• http//www.educause.edu/pub/er/erm04/erm0450.asp?b
  hcp1

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