Using Blogs for eLearning

Using blogs for quick e-Learning

Blogsg

• Easily share resourcesEasily share resources and ideas with a web audience that is willingaudience that is willing to share back what they think about those ideas.t about t ose deas– Will Richardson– Blogs Wikis PodcastsBlogs, Wikis, Podcasts,

and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms

Blogsg

• A Web-based publication consisting p gprimarily of periodic articles

• Normally –but not always in reverse chronological order

• Format varies -can include simple lists of links, article summaries or full articles

• Range in scope from personal diaries to journals discussing music, sports, politics, etc.

Creating a blogg g

• You write items on an ongoing basisYou write items on an ongoing basis• If you let them, visitors can

Comment on entries– Comment on entries– Link to entries

E mail you– E-mail you

What’s the big deal?g

• Others can subscribe to your blogOthers can subscribe to your blog • When you post a new item, an email

can automatically be sent to themcan automatically be sent to them– AND/OR

A it ill b t d i th i f d• A new item will be posted in their feed aggregator

Why use Blogs?y g

• Quick way to provide news and eventQuick way to provide news and event updates to your users

• It’s easy! All you need is internet• It s easy! All you need is internet access and the ability to type an emailSince Blogs typically use RSS feeds• Since Blogs typically use RSS feeds, it’s easy for your users to receive informationinformation

Blog Featuresg

• BlogrollBlogroll– Enables you to link to blogs you read

frequentlyq y– Used for “reciprocal linking”

• CommentingCommenting– Allows users to provide “feedback” to

postsposts– Problems with SPAM

Blog Hosting Servicesg g

• Use free Web-based commercialUse free Web based commercial services

• Use subscription hosted services• Use subscription, hosted services • Use software on your own company

serverserver

Free Web-based services

• Pros: free and simple to use.Pros: free and simple to use. • Cons: communities of kids with ads on

the blogs; lack professional tools; youthe blogs; lack professional tools; you won't own your content Examples: Xanga (free with ads• Examples: Xanga (free with ads, premium service available), LiveJournal (free and paid versions)LiveJournal (free and paid versions), and MSN Spaces (free)

Hosted Services

• Pros: good enough quality forPros: good enough quality for professional blogging; hosted online so no need for an IT departmentso no need for an IT department

• Cons: modest subscription fee, limited customization must use provider'scustomization, must use provider s domain name

• Examples: TypePad and Blogger• Examples: TypePad and Blogger

Professional Services

• Pros: total control, good metrics andPros: total control, good metrics and tools, your company domain name

• Cons: need IT department to manage• Cons: need IT department to manage it on your company server Examples: Word Press (free• Examples: Word Press (free download), Radio Userland, and Movable TypeMovable Type

Create a blogg

• Create an accountCreate an account• Name your blog

Chose a template• Chose a template• Start blogging• Customize and tweak• Set up a feedSe up a eed

Create an account

Name your blogy g

Choose a template

Your blog has been createdg

Ready to start bloggingy gg g

Where to get content?g

• Google alerts – topics of interestGoogle alerts topics of interest• Linkedin groups

Other blogs• Other blogs• Magazines, newspapers etc.• Info from your vendors

Write with the reader in mind

• Remember WIIFM?Remember WIIFM? • That's what you should be keeping in

mindmind. • Your reader will read your post looking

for what's in it for themfor what's in it for them.

Make it valuable and worthwhile

• Don't waste people's time.Don t waste people s time. • If you don't have anything to say, no

problem plenty other people doproblem, plenty other people do.• Share their articles, do an interview,

review a bookreview a book.

Proof-read

• Proof-read for typos and glaringProof read for typos and glaring grammatical errors.

• Respect your readers by polishing up• Respect your readers by polishing up your stuff.

Keep it short and simple

• Most people are scanners. You mayMost people are scanners. You may have a lot to say and think it interesting, and it may be. But peopleinteresting, and it may be. But people are reading online and out of time.

• Get to the point quickly• Get to the point quickly. • Publishing short posts more frequently

is a better format than publishingis a better format than publishing lengthy articles every few weeks.

Get to the point quicklyy

• Keep it lively, make it snappy andKeep it lively, make it snappy and snazzy.

• Keep in mind the journalist's rule of 5• Keep in mind the journalist s rule of 5 W's in the first paragraph: who, what, why when and wherewhy, when and where.

Link often

• This builds credibility and positionsThis builds credibility and positions you as an expert in your field.

• People don't have time to know what• People don t have time to know what others are doing, you should tell them. Linking to other blogs and websites• Linking to other blogs and websites also helps you build a network of associates who will in turn link to yourassociates who will in turn link to your blog.

Use keywordsy

• This will help you stay on purpose,This will help you stay on purpose, and the search engines will love your blog.blog.

• The more often your keywords show up the better your search engineup, the better your search engine results.

Write Clearlyy

• Short sentences, only one concept perShort sentences, only one concept per sentence.

• No double speak or jargon; no more• No double speak or jargon; no more than one idea in one sentence- don't make your readers have to think aboutmake your readers have to think about your meaning.

• Spoon feed them• Spoon feed them. • Use commas and dashes liberally.

Write like you talky

• It's okay to use common expressionsIt s okay to use common expressions from speech.

• Examples: Go figure Don't even go• Examples: Go figure. Don t even go there. Now, I ask you. Gotta love it. (And remember the age group of your(And, remember the age group of your readers.)

Use a clear headline

• Don't be afraid to make boldDon t be afraid to make bold statements (but don't mislead people either).either).

• Make it snazzy and use key words. Example: Ex Techno Weenie Masters• Example: Ex-Techno-Weenie Masters HTML Code

Checklist• Is the topic clear to someone who only reads the headline?

D h l d h ll h d h h i b d• Does the lead paragraph tell who and what the story is about and why the reader should care about it?

• Is the angle you've used likely to seem newsworthy? Would someone who knows absolutely nothing about this topic• Would someone who knows absolutely nothing about this topic understand this post?

• Is the post free of jargon? • Is it written in journalistic style and does it make an effort to be• Is it written in journalistic style and does it make an effort to be

objective? • Have you peppered the headline and the post with keywords and

phrases that will be attractive to search engines? p g• Did you remember to ask your readers a question at the end, or

something to stimulate readers to comment? • Did you remember to write with the reader in mind, always keeping

in mind WIIFT? (What's in It for Them?)

Spice up your blogy g

• Check out other blogsCheck out other blogs• Add links to other blogs

Customize your blog with• Customize your blog with– Polls

Ph– Photos– Movies

Corporate Policies and Blogging

• Make it clear that the views expressed in the blog are yours l d d t il t th i falone and do not necessarily represent the views of your

employer. • Respect the company's confidentiality and proprietary

i f tiinformation. • Ask your manager if you have any questions about what is

appropriate to include in your blog. • Be respectful to the company, employees, customers,

partners, and competitors. • Understand when the company asks that topics not be

discussed for confidentiality or legal compliance reasons. • Ensure that your blogging activity does not interfere with your

work commitments.

RSS

• Users of RSS content use programs p gcalled feed "readers" or "aggregators“

• The user subscribes to a feed by supplying to his or her reader a link to the feed

• The reader can then check the user's subscribed feeds to see if any of those feeds have new content since the lastfeeds have new content since the last time it checked, and if so, retrieve that content and present it to the usercontent and present it to the user.

Using an RSSg

• From your Web site or Blog push:From your Web site or Blog push:– A calendar of events– Latest news items or newsletter articlesLatest news items or newsletter articles– Current job openings

Staff recommendations– Staff recommendations– New courses

Feedburner

• Provides custom RSS feeds andProvides custom RSS feeds and management tools to bloggers, podcasters, and other web-basedpodcasters, and other web based content publishers

• Services provided to publishers• Services provided to publishers include traffic analysis and an optional advertising systemadvertising system

Blog Toolsg

• www.c4lpt.co.uk/Directory/Tools/blogging.html• www.wordpress.org• www.blogger.com• blogsome.com• www.movabletype.org• textpattern com• textpattern.com• b2evolution.net• squarespace comsquarespace.com• www.typepad.com

Blogging in LearningTipsgg g g

• http://blogsforlearning.msu.edu/http://blogsforlearning.msu.edu/• http://www.slideshare.net/Downes/blo

gging-in-learninggging-in-learning• http://www.slideshare.net/thiagoedu/bl

ogging and learning in the web 20ogging-and-learning-in-the-web-20• http://technosavvy.org/2003/09/04/blo

i f l i /gging-for-learning/

E-Learning Blogs g g

• http://www.articulate.com/blog/the-19-best-elearning-blogs/

• http://www.pageflakes.com/trainingblogshtt //bl th //• http://blog.cathy-moore.com//

• http://elearnquee• http://janeknight typepad com/• http://janeknight.typepad.com/• http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/• http://elearningtech.blogspot.com/p g g p• http://elearndev.blogspot.com/• http://www.elearninglearning.com

Blogs I likeg

• http://blogmaverick.com/http://blogmaverick.com/• http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/

http://www crmcdonalds com/publish/c• http://www.crmcdonalds.com/publish/csr/home/_blog.html

// /• http://blogs.zappos.com/blogs

Check out my blogy g

• http://cre8iveii.blogspot.com/http://cre8iveii.blogspot.com/– Contains links to blogs mentioned in this

presentationp• Debbie Richards• 713/523 0888• 713/523-0888• debbie@cre8iveii.com