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//**User-created content is part of our world. It is relevant, immediate and global in its conversation and impact. Blogging is just one type of 21st Century tool.**//
===//**What's all this talk about blogging and using 21st Century tools in the classroom? Why do I need to change everything I've been doing for years? Why can't I just have students pull out their notebooks and maintain journals that way? That's how I learned 20 years ago.**//===

===//**The world changes...faster than we can even begin to imagine. Let's take a peak at What is a blog?**// How do they work and why are they important to education? Let's view "A Vision of Students Today" by Professor Michael Wesch.===

A ** blog ** (a **blend** of the term // web log //) 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 reverse-chronological order. // **Blog** // can also be used as a verb, meaning // **to maintain or add content to a blog** //. [Wikipedia]

===The collective community of all blogs is known as the //blogosphere//. Since all blogs are on the internet by definition, they may be seen as interconnected and socially networked, through [|blogrolls], comments, and micro-blogs (i.e. Twitter).===

**Kidblog**

 * ===**Introduction to Kidblog**===

Free, no ads. Simple, easy to use interface. Teachers have administrative control over all student blogs and student accounts. Your students’ blogs are private by default – viewable only by classmates and the teacher. For “semi-public” blogs, set up guest (e.g. parent) accounts that requires a password to view students’ posts/comments. Comment privacy settings block unsolicited comments from outside sources.

[|Kidblog] does not collect any personal information from teachers or students. Does not require student e-mail accounts. Teachers should establish clear guidelines for posting and commenting on [|Kidblog].

**Sample Blogging Rules**

 * ====**This blog belongs to the school, so __all school rules apply here__ too!**====
 * ====**__Never__** **write anything that you don't want everyone to know.**====
 * ====**__Always__** **show respect to the authors of posts and comments.**====
 * ====**__Always__** **use your online name to submit a comment, __never__ use your full name.**====
 * ====**Have fun blogging with your friends!**====

**Student Technical Skill Required**

 * ====**Basic Computer and Internet Navigation Skills**====
 * ====**Minimal Keyboarding Proficiency (or alternatively utilize speech recognition software to covert speech to type in a word processing program and allow students to copy and paste their post).**====
 * ====**Basic Internet Safety Rules**====

Edmodo (microblogging)

 * ===Introduction to Edmodo===
 * ===How is Edmodo Used in the Classroom===
 * ===Edmodo in Action===

Edublog

 * ===Ten Ways to Use Your Edublog - Student Blogs===

SharePoint Blog

 * ===Getting Started - Creating Your SharePoint Blog===

//I'm confused!// What's the difference between a **Blog** and a **Wiki**?

Here is a simple explanation of a Wiki.

Now do you understand the difference between these two tools?

Take a look at this political animation to see how things will shake out when it comes to old media vs. new, blogging, twitter and citizen journalism! Whether you want micropayments or good ol' fashioned dead trees, this political cartoon makes a good point!