What is it?
A blog is a platform for a website that provides users with a large degree of versatility with regard to design while still allowing the main focus to be on content instead of aesthetics.
Key Features
- Very easy to post content and manage.
- Free (depending on what service you choose).
Who uses it?
Blogs are used by individuals who are interested in maintaining communication through the web. Although blogs began as personal journals, they have since expanded to become de rigueur for journalists and are a common system for smaller web businesses, online magazines, for internal corporate communication, or as a way to keep in touch with friends through a multiple-user blog in which multiple people may make entries to the same space.
How does it work?
After creating an account, you can choose a theme for your blog and begin making posts. Most blogging platforms provide a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor, making it easy to make your post look exactly how you want it to without requiring any knowledge of HTML (although an HTML editor is usually also available). Adding multimedia content is equally simple, with special buttons provided in the editor specifically for that purpose.
Things to consider before Blogging
Although it is possible to make a blog private and to moderate comments, they are traditionally open to anyone who happens across them.
If your goal is to have a simple collaborative space to work in, consider using a wiki.
Uses as an instructional technology?
- Provide a space for students to collaborate on a group project in which they can discuss their progress and ideas.
- Maintain a professional blog containing research and written works as a component in a resumé.
- Easily create a web presence for a club, organization, or department on campus.
Resources at Wooster
- A blog may be set up for free with various blogging sites. The most popular and successful are wordpress and blogger
- 7 things you should know about blogs
