Edublog
Encyclopedia
An edublog is a blog
written by someone in education
. Examples might include blogs written by or for teachers, blogs maintained for the purpose of classroom instruction, or blogs written about educational policy. The collection of these blogs is called the edublogosphere by some, in keeping with the larger blogosphere
, although that label is not necessarily universally agreed upon. (Others refer to the community or collection of blogs and bloggers as the edusphere.) Similarly, educators who blog are sometimes called edubloggers.
There are many teacher related blogs on the internet where teachers can share information with one another. This can include specific content that they are working on in their classroom or exemplary lessons that they wish to share with other teachers. It is a tool for educators to share ideas with one another on what has worked with students and what has not. Teachers can often rely on these sources to communicate with one another regarding any issues in education that they may be having including classroom management techniques and policies. In this way the blog often acts as a support system for teachers where they can access ideas, tools, and gain support and recognition from other professionals in their field. Some of these blogs have become nationally recognized as useful tools, especially teacher blogs which are directly making a difference in the educational system. Anthony Mullen’s blog, for example, is about a teacher traveling the United States discussing drop out rates and sharing his experience with others.
Teachers use blogs to inform and involve parents.
Teachers use blogs as a way to communicate and enhance classroom instruction among their students. It is easy to introduce the use of blogs in the classroom and allows both the teacher and student the ability to edit and add content at any time. The ability for both the teacher and student to edit content allows for study to take place outside the classroom environment. Blogs increase exposure to other students from around the country or world while improving writing and communication skills. Teachers are using blogs as a way to post important information such as homework, important dates, missed lessons, projects, discussion boards, and other useful classroom information that is accessible by all. Students can access this information from home, or from any computer that is connected to the Internet.
Students can use blogs to communicate with other students for group projects as well. Students can also access the blog to ask each other questions regarding a missed assignment or lesson. It also gives students an opportunity to collaborate on poetry, various writing assignments, or readings. Students can respond initially to the text, including their thoughts, feelings, connections, questions etc. Other students would have the opportunity to respond and react to these responses. This would generate conversation amongst the students and develop their critical and analytical thinking skills. It also allows students who are shy and reserved in class to voice their opinions and insight using a different approach. With the use of blogs in the classroom students learn from one another and individually express themselves as well. In higher education blogs are often used as reflective journals. These blogs can be private between student and tutor or can be shared with the class.
The use of blogs in education gives students a global perspective. Teachers from different states, countries, and continents are able to collaborate on different projects and learnings. A classroom in China can collaborate with classrooms in Germany, Mexico, Australia, etc. with just a few clicks of a button. Learning through blogs allows students to take control of their own learning and steer it to their own needs. Students are able to see that opinions and even strategies vary based on location and culture. Children are all different, but a common thread of learning can unite them. The use of blogs in the classroom embeds technological literacy in children that will help them in adulthood.
Teachers and parents can also use blogs in order to communicate with one another. Information can be posted for parents on special events occurring in the classroom such as field trips, celebrations, and presentations. Blogging is also a central tool for parents to find out daily assignments so that they can check up on their children and classroom expectations. Having this clear and open communication between parents and students can ensure success. (The Child Development Institute). Assisting parents on what is developmentally appropriate for their children on a blog could open communication and help parenting skills as well. A teacher's first priority is to educate their students, but educating and communicating openly with parents through blogs is a helpful tool to keep lines of communication open between teachers and student families.
called the Edublog WebRing, founded on January 30, 2002.
The Edublog Awards
, the international and community based awards programme for the use of blogs and social media to support education, runs annually online across a range of platforms. The Awards were founded by James N. Farmer
in 2004, and are currently managed by Ronnie Burt, Sue Waters, and Steve Hargadon.
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
written by someone in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
. Examples might include blogs written by or for teachers, blogs maintained for the purpose of classroom instruction, or blogs written about educational policy. The collection of these blogs is called the edublogosphere by some, in keeping with the larger blogosphere
Blogosphere
The blogosphere is made up of all blogs and their interconnections. The term implies that blogs exist together as a connected community or as a social network in which everyday authors can publish their opinions...
, although that label is not necessarily universally agreed upon. (Others refer to the community or collection of blogs and bloggers as the edusphere.) Similarly, educators who blog are sometimes called edubloggers.
Blogs in Education
The use of blogs has become popular in educational institutions including public schools and colleges. Blogs can be important tools for sharing useful information and tips among co-workers, dispersing information to students, or keeping in contact with parents. Teachers can create, monitor and edit blogs to ensure that the postings are appropriate and pertain to the classroom.There are many teacher related blogs on the internet where teachers can share information with one another. This can include specific content that they are working on in their classroom or exemplary lessons that they wish to share with other teachers. It is a tool for educators to share ideas with one another on what has worked with students and what has not. Teachers can often rely on these sources to communicate with one another regarding any issues in education that they may be having including classroom management techniques and policies. In this way the blog often acts as a support system for teachers where they can access ideas, tools, and gain support and recognition from other professionals in their field. Some of these blogs have become nationally recognized as useful tools, especially teacher blogs which are directly making a difference in the educational system. Anthony Mullen’s blog, for example, is about a teacher traveling the United States discussing drop out rates and sharing his experience with others.
Teachers use blogs to inform and involve parents.
Teachers use blogs as a way to communicate and enhance classroom instruction among their students. It is easy to introduce the use of blogs in the classroom and allows both the teacher and student the ability to edit and add content at any time. The ability for both the teacher and student to edit content allows for study to take place outside the classroom environment. Blogs increase exposure to other students from around the country or world while improving writing and communication skills. Teachers are using blogs as a way to post important information such as homework, important dates, missed lessons, projects, discussion boards, and other useful classroom information that is accessible by all. Students can access this information from home, or from any computer that is connected to the Internet.
Students can use blogs to communicate with other students for group projects as well. Students can also access the blog to ask each other questions regarding a missed assignment or lesson. It also gives students an opportunity to collaborate on poetry, various writing assignments, or readings. Students can respond initially to the text, including their thoughts, feelings, connections, questions etc. Other students would have the opportunity to respond and react to these responses. This would generate conversation amongst the students and develop their critical and analytical thinking skills. It also allows students who are shy and reserved in class to voice their opinions and insight using a different approach. With the use of blogs in the classroom students learn from one another and individually express themselves as well. In higher education blogs are often used as reflective journals. These blogs can be private between student and tutor or can be shared with the class.
The use of blogs in education gives students a global perspective. Teachers from different states, countries, and continents are able to collaborate on different projects and learnings. A classroom in China can collaborate with classrooms in Germany, Mexico, Australia, etc. with just a few clicks of a button. Learning through blogs allows students to take control of their own learning and steer it to their own needs. Students are able to see that opinions and even strategies vary based on location and culture. Children are all different, but a common thread of learning can unite them. The use of blogs in the classroom embeds technological literacy in children that will help them in adulthood.
Teachers and parents can also use blogs in order to communicate with one another. Information can be posted for parents on special events occurring in the classroom such as field trips, celebrations, and presentations. Blogging is also a central tool for parents to find out daily assignments so that they can check up on their children and classroom expectations. Having this clear and open communication between parents and students can ensure success. (The Child Development Institute). Assisting parents on what is developmentally appropriate for their children on a blog could open communication and help parenting skills as well. A teacher's first priority is to educate their students, but educating and communicating openly with parents through blogs is a helpful tool to keep lines of communication open between teachers and student families.
History
The Wayback Machine records a webpage at edublog.com as early as May 2001. Another early recorded use of the term "edublog" can be traced to a webringWebring
A webring is a collection of websites linked together in a circular structure, and usually organized around a specific theme, often educational or social...
called the Edublog WebRing, founded on January 30, 2002.
The Edublog Awards
The Edublog Awards
The Edublog Awards are an annual, community based programme which recognises and celebrates excellent practice in the use of weblogs and social media to facilitate education. Entries are welcome from any country, in any language, from educators working with any age group or type of learner,...
, the international and community based awards programme for the use of blogs and social media to support education, runs annually online across a range of platforms. The Awards were founded by James N. Farmer
James N. Farmer
James N. Farmer is founder and CEO of Edublogs.org, the largest global weblog community for educators. James is currently based in Australia, where he has been the Online Community Editor of The Age, and Lecturer in Education Design at Deakin University...
in 2004, and are currently managed by Ronnie Burt, Sue Waters, and Steve Hargadon.
Notable Edubloggers
- Stephen DownesStephen DownesStephen Downes is a designer and commentator in the fields of online learning and new media. Downes has explored and promoted the educational use of computer and online technologies since 1995...
- Will RichardsonWill RichardsonWill Richardson is the author of the highly ranked and read edublog Weblogg-ed and author of the book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Richardson is also active on the web, he has both a twitter and Youtube channel....
- James N. FarmerJames N. FarmerJames N. Farmer is founder and CEO of Edublogs.org, the largest global weblog community for educators. James is currently based in Australia, where he has been the Online Community Editor of The Age, and Lecturer in Education Design at Deakin University...
- George SiemensGeorge SiemensGeorge Siemens is a theorist on learning in a digitally based society. He is the author of the article and the book - an exploration of the impact of the changed context and characteristics of knowledge....
See also
- Collaborative learningCollaborative learningCollaborative learning is a situation in which two or more people learn or attempt to learn something together. Unlike individual learning, people engaged in collaborative learning capitalize on one another’s resources and skills...
- Educational technologyEducational technologyEducational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources." The term educational technology is often associated with, and encompasses, instructional theory and...
- E-learning glossary
- Networked learningNetworked learningNetworked learning is a process of developing and maintaining connections with people and information, and communicating in such a way so as to support one another's learning.The central term in this definition is connections...
- M-learningM-learningThe term M-Learning, or "mobile learning", has different meanings for different communities. Although related to e-learning and distance education, it is distinct in its focus on learning across contexts and learning with mobile devices...
- Moblog
- Virtual learning environmentVirtual learning environmentDefined largely by usage, the term virtual learning environment has most, if not all, of the following salient properties:* It is Web-based* It uses Web 2.0 tools for rich 2-way interaction* It includes a content management system...
- Web-based training
External links
Multiuser edublogging platforms
- Free Edublogs - Widely used edublog by teachers.
- Classblogmeister Widely used free edublog for students and teachers.
- Ödev Sitesi - Turkey Edu Center
- Teach For Us - Teach for America teacher blogs
- Teacher Lingo - Community of teacher blogs. Uses Telligent Community platform from Telligent SystemsTelligent SystemsTelligent Systems, more commonly referred to as Telligent, is an enterprise collaboration and community software company. Founded in 2004, Telligent's U.S...
.