This article should really be entitled ... Everything you ever wanted to know about ......
The aim of this article is two-fold:
1. Explain what a blog is, and how RSS (really simple syndication) can be used to share information and spread messages. We also aim to explain how the combination of the two technologies is used in podcasting.
2. Demonstrate how a blog can be used to link and reference a topic to web resources.to help explain things. (You may have noticed that some of the words are underlined; when you click on these it takes you to a site where you can find out more about the topic).
So ... what is a blog? Well, you're looking at one now!
Essentially a blog is a simple to publish web site where you can easily add information, articles, links, and even (in the case of ClusterBlog pictures and files).
A blog maintains the 'posts' in date order, and keeps a permanent online running record of activity, a web log, shortened to 'blog'. It also allows viewers to add comments and respond.
To be effective a blog should centre around an individual person, single issue, or, as in the case of the science advisors 'blog', a single interest subject ... Science teaching and learning! We have put together an acceptable use policy as a guide for clusterbloggers which may be useful as a guide.
Of course, there are millions of websites, so why would you keep coming back to a site? Let's be honest, if you visit a few times and there's nothing new to see on each visit, you stop visiting, unless its a reference site. That's where the cool tool called RSS comes in.
RSS stands for really simple syndication, and turns the astute web user from a reader to a feeder.
Imagine if you had a single web page that brought together all of the things you are interested in, and let you know when something new had been added. That is what RSS is! No more email in-boxes filling up with adverts and spam, just the information you want, when its new! As a bonus you can go back and view all of the past posts as well, so it keeps a record of activity.
Many websites, particularly those that deal with quickly changing content now have a small orange button with either RSS or XML written on it. This is the key to syndicating, as they indicate the presence of a 'feed'. There are some excellent guides to RSS, and the BBC site is a popular source of news feeds.
In order to read a feed, there are two approaches:
1. Download a free feedreader application. This is useful if you use the same computer for all your activities, as it installs on to the computer.
2. If you use different computers, then a web based feed reader is best. There are several available, and most are free including yahoo and bloglines.
Adding feeds is easy, and there are instructions provided. In some instances it requires you to click on the orange button, then cut and paste the URL address line. If you use bloglines, you can often see a button with 'bloglines' written on it. Clicking on this will subscribe you to that sites feed. Many sites have collections of feeds to cover topics and areas of interest, including yahoo.
How can I use it in education?
Imagine being able to publish homework on the Internet, complete with references to web sites.
Keeping a log of a science investigation?
Publishing is a powerful way of communicating, and inspires people. It is especially powerful when readers or feeders comment. Of course, the question of how to make sure readers don't swear or insult is important. Most blogs allow moderation or stop comments unless approved. The approval process ensures that rude or innappropriate comments are avoided.
Where does podcasting come in?
Podcasting uses the same RSS feature as described above! Instead of letting the user know that a website has updated, it simply lets the user know that a new sound file is available. This can be created using a free sound recording program called Audacity, which can be saved as an MP3 file, and downloaded on to an iPod or MP3 player. There are even videocasts!
If you need more information about blogging contact the digital curriculum team or explore the web. Many of the features are free, and they are fun to use, as well as being powerful educational tools.
Published
Monday, October 01, 2007 6:25 PM
by
AlanDay