Blogs

By 16^th February 2011 there was estimated that the amount of Blogs goes over 156 million, but where does the word come from? The word “BLOG” comes from the junction of two different words (web + log). The term "weblog" was originally used by the first time by Jorn Barger on 17 December 1997 and the short form, "blog," was firstly included into the language by Peter Merholz (wikipedia.org).

Blogs are sites where someone, the “administrator”, “coordinator” or “moderator”, but better called “blogger” writes about different topics that he or she considers important for the purpose of the blog and his or her criterion. These writings are named “Posts” or “entries” and can be published within certain period of time (weekly, monthly, etc.). According to Wikipedia.org, those “entries” are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order” and deal with commentaries from followers or the blogger’s, descriptions of important events that help the followers to know about the blog and its content. When all the writing is combined together it a looks like a small website and can be comprised of news, graphics, articles, personal diary pages, pictures, audios, video, company information, product to be sold, their advertisement and the list is endless (Fioriello, P.) .

“Most blogs are interactive, allowing visitors to leave comments and even message each other via widgets on the blogs and it is this interactivity that distinguishes them from other static websites. Some of them provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic” (wikipedia.org)

TYPES

Blogs can be divided into two major categories. One is the personal most common blog which is composed traditionally by daily, weekly or monthly posts by bloggers and/or commentaries from followers. Blogs then become more than a way to just communicate but a way to reflect on life, work, experiences, knowledge or works of art. One type of personal blog, “microblog”, provides the followers and readers with detailed events and captures different moments in time. Some others as Twitter, allow writers to share thoughts and feelings instantaneously with friends and family much faster than emailing or writing posts. Corporate and organizational blogs on the other hand, are conceived for business purposes, to enhance communication and culture in a corporation or externally for marketing,branding or public relations in a company or organization. Similar blogs for clubs and societies are called club blogs or group blogs. They aim to inform members and other interested parties about club or group’s facilities, upcoming events and member’s activities (montclair.edu, wikipedia.org).

There are other sub categories, the genre blogs and the media type blogs. The genre blog heads to particular subjects, such as politics, travelling, about the house and decoration, fashion, and the amount is even bigger than this. The media type blog are sites in which the follower interacts with the blog and can go beyond the actual site. We can go from sites that comprise videos (vlogs), the ones that comprise links (linklogs), the ones that contain portfolios of sketches (sketchblogs) or ones that comprise photos (photoblogs) (wikipedia.org).

BLOGS IN EDUCATION

The use of blogs in instructional settings is limited only by your imagination. We can go from content-related blogs, to networking and personal knowledge sharing. They provide instructional tips for students, course announcements and readings and links the student can use to increase knowledge. The options a student can take when using blogs in courses can include articrafts as reflective or writing journals, they can do also assignments submission and review handouts for the class, they can work on e-portfolios to compile different information about themselves and other students and sharing course-related helpful resources (montclair.edu).

Crreating a Blog:

WORDPRESS

BLOGGER

POPULAR BLOGS

REFERENCES

“Blog” Wikipedia, free encyclopedia. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog

Fioriello, P. (ND) What is a Blog and How Does it Work? Available:   http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-a-Blog-and-How-Does-it-Work?&id=3084842

Office of Information Technology. “What is a Blog?” on line article available: http://oit.montclair.edu/documentationpdf/what_is_blog.pdf