Definition-
A Blog (also called a
weblog or web log) as defined in a lifewire site by Susan Gunelius is a “website
consisting of entries (also called posts)
appearing in reverse chronological order with the most recent entry appearing
first (similar in format to a daily journal). Blogs typically include features
such as comments and links to
increase user interactivity. Blogs are
created using specific publishing
software.” The person that writes a blog is called a "blogger"
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=define+blog
I had no idea exactly what a blog was and I thought that I had never read one. But after several conversations with my children I discovered that I was more familiar with a blog then I knew. I enjoy Quora and Pinterest, much to my surprise these are all blogs. Next, I thought that they had to be filled with antidotal comments; again, much to my surprise they can be both funny or very serious. They can contain pictures, videos, and links to other things. It is just an online journal. That seemed easy since I keep written journals of my day to day life. They are a good source of stress relieve that help me cope.
Comparisons-
How do other forms of computer websites differ? Each of the following tools offer the user differing ways to interact through the social media.
Glog - Short for graphics (or graphical) blog, glog is the name used to describe a publicly accessible graphical blog. A person or organization's glog is actually an interactive multimedia image that looks similar to a poster, but readers of a glog are able to interact with the content. The individual that glogs is called a "glogger."
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/G/glog.html
Vlog- a blog in which the postings are primarily in video form. The individual that creates and maintains a vlog is called a "vlogger"
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/vlog-video-blog
Discussion Boards-A discussion board (known also by various other names such as discussion group, discussion forum, message board, and online forum) is a general term for any online "bulletin board" where you can leave and expect to see responses to messages you have left. Or you can just read the board.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/discussion--board
Web pages-a single, usually hypertext document on the World Wide Web that can incorporate text, graphics, sounds, etc.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/web--page
Website - is a collection of related web pages, including multimedia content, typically identified with a common domain name, and published on at least one web server. A website may be accessible via a public Internet Protocol (IP) network, such as the Internet, or a private local area network (LAN), by referencing a uniform resource locator (URL) that identifies the site.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Website
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=define+blog
I had no idea exactly what a blog was and I thought that I had never read one. But after several conversations with my children I discovered that I was more familiar with a blog then I knew. I enjoy Quora and Pinterest, much to my surprise these are all blogs. Next, I thought that they had to be filled with antidotal comments; again, much to my surprise they can be both funny or very serious. They can contain pictures, videos, and links to other things. It is just an online journal. That seemed easy since I keep written journals of my day to day life. They are a good source of stress relieve that help me cope.
Comparisons-
How do other forms of computer websites differ? Each of the following tools offer the user differing ways to interact through the social media.
Glog - Short for graphics (or graphical) blog, glog is the name used to describe a publicly accessible graphical blog. A person or organization's glog is actually an interactive multimedia image that looks similar to a poster, but readers of a glog are able to interact with the content. The individual that glogs is called a "glogger."
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/G/glog.html
Vlog- a blog in which the postings are primarily in video form. The individual that creates and maintains a vlog is called a "vlogger"
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/vlog-video-blog
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/discussion--board
Web pages-a single, usually hypertext document on the World Wide Web that can incorporate text, graphics, sounds, etc.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/web--page
Website - is a collection of related web pages, including multimedia content, typically identified with a common domain name, and published on at least one web server. A website may be accessible via a public Internet Protocol (IP) network, such as the Internet, or a private local area network (LAN), by referencing a uniform resource locator (URL) that identifies the site.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Website
Finding a Blog Site-
There were many sites to review and since I knew nothing
everything seemed to be exactly what I wanted until I looked further and found
that many had a cost associated to them. I asked around after that for
recommendations and quite a few friends and college students where I work suggested
to use WordPress. It too had some
limitations and came with a cost that I was not sure I wanted to invest in.
What I wanted was a free site that was user friendly and easy for a novice to
navigate. Blogging does not seem like something I will want to continue except
to complete my course study. I have
reservations about putting all my thoughts out there in the World Wide
Web. Especially knowing that they will
never go away, they are just sitting there waiting.
How would I use it? -
I am a
retired teacher and have very little contact with students in a daily classroom
setting. I’m
sure if I were in a classroom there would be many opportunities and possibilities
to develop this skill. I have noticed
that a lot of young middle school children are encouraged to start and maintain
blogs. As active educators I can see this being a tool to help young people to express their feelings and to share their thoughts with others on many subject areas. The more I find out about blogging along with the articles I have read I can definitely see it being a worth while educational forum for young minds. Reading from my fellow classmates’ comments,
who have regular classes, they seem to have many ideas that would work in a classroom.
I work in a
museum and I have been trying to figure out uses for blogs in my current position. We have a Facebook page that we maintain information about openings and closings of the gallery along with notes and pictures of different meteorites. We spotlight a different type of meteorite in our collection once a week. But that is done through the Geology department interns. Maybe I can blog about my visitations to schools and special events where I show the meteorites. I can see this giving me many affordances there that will offer me an opportunity to maintain and keep a blog. Maybe there are some other affordances that
I would want to address dealing with this forum. This could open a whole new world of interactions with the schools I visit and corresponding with the classrooms as to what I am currently doing.
TPACK Model–
Content - When using this technique and following the TPACK model I want to make sure that my blog content keep students involved by asking questions through the blog that would make them think more about meteorites, their origins and value to research. Meteoriticst are constantly studying meteorites to give them insight about our universe. There are so many facets to this area of study that can't help exciting students to wanting to learning more about it. The more the blog can give them more creative ideas and reasons to evaluate and analyze their thoughts on a higher level who knows where it might lead them. I might be able to give them simple activities to do at home similar to 'Bubble Life."
Pedagogical - In J.J. Gibson's theory about affordances it showed how these things can add to a person's perception of the "visual world." In his definition of affordances he stated that "action possibilities" are latent in the environment, independent of individual's ability to recognize them. This venue can offer many ways to assist a teacher in enhancing him/her ability to transfer knowledge and information in a very informal and relaxed setting. This learning can be fun; but fun work!
Technology -is an innovative tool that is only growing by leaps and bounds. Probably faster than most can keep up, but it is an excellent tool to keep young minds involved in the learning process without even feeling like they are learning in the traditional old ways. Research has shown that the use of technology is an excellent motivator of minds. The curiosity of this type of learning is stimulating and exciting. Through the research of Hereford and Winn (1999) and Jackson, et al (1999) this interaction with technology gives the student the "ability to act on the environment experimentally" and not just read or observe it from afar.
Pedagogical - In J.J. Gibson's theory about affordances it showed how these things can add to a person's perception of the "visual world." In his definition of affordances he stated that "action possibilities" are latent in the environment, independent of individual's ability to recognize them. This venue can offer many ways to assist a teacher in enhancing him/her ability to transfer knowledge and information in a very informal and relaxed setting. This learning can be fun; but fun work!
Technology -is an innovative tool that is only growing by leaps and bounds. Probably faster than most can keep up, but it is an excellent tool to keep young minds involved in the learning process without even feeling like they are learning in the traditional old ways. Research has shown that the use of technology is an excellent motivator of minds. The curiosity of this type of learning is stimulating and exciting. Through the research of Hereford and Winn (1999) and Jackson, et al (1999) this interaction with technology gives the student the "ability to act on the environment experimentally" and not just read or observe it from afar.
Obstacles related to this –
To embark on
this would require more familiarity and comfort with blogging. But we learn by doing. So, the obstacles that I might encounter will
be worth the skills that I will be able to add and share. Just maybe, I’ll be able to pass this knowledge
on to others in many different learning/teaching opportunities. I have not identified any obstacles just yet and I feel that I will have to start this journey and find out my obstacles along the way.
