1. Getting Started with Blogs and Wikis
Library Lunchables
July 2009

2. Blogs
• Online, chronological collection of personal
commentary and links
– allows users to post their thoughts and comments to a
web site for others to read and respond too
– frequently updated
– usually intended for general public consumption
• Personal diaries to editorials on specific topics

3. Blogs
• Use for:
– connect course materials to current events
– evaluate different perspectives
– reflective writing/journaling
• record and share experiences
• personal reflection about classes, careers or current
events
– citizen journalism

4. Blogs
• Use for:
– project blog to keep track of project/dialogue for group
work
– assignment submission and peer review
– capture and disseminate student- or faculty-generated
content
– post instructional tips for students

5. Blogs
• Blogs in Plain English (video)
http://www.commoncraft.com/blogs
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnploFsS_tY
(How to Create a Blog w/ Blogger.com)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnzlOYaeOwU
(How to Post a Video to your Blog w/
Blogger.com)

6. Blogs
• Tools:
– Journal LX (in Blackboard)
– Edublogs
http://www.edublogs.org/
– Blogger
http://www.blogger.com/
– WordPress
http://wordpress.com/

7. Blogs
• Selecting the Right Tool
– What experience do you want your students to have?
– Who should see the blogs?
– How long will the blogs continue?

8. • You need to create a Google
https://www.blogger.com/start account.
• You can use any email address to
create a Google account.
• You can create multiple blogs under
one account.

9. Once you create a Google account, you can link to other Google services.

10. Take your time naming the blog and its url.

11. • Tabs lead to areas where you customize your blog.
• Go through all of the settings for each tab.
• Under the settings tab, you can delete your blog.

12. •The theme provides distinct page
elements.
• Under the layout tab, you can
choose new template.
• You can delete or add sections
easily.

13. Content on posts could be text, pictures, and/or
videos.

14. You can always edit published posts.

15. • http://fscblogworkshop.blogspot.com/
• Check your posts before you log out.

16. Wikis
• Web page that can be viewed and modified by
anybody
• Collaborative space to create and disseminate
original knowledge
– Versioning can show thought process
• Provide practical experience for students in
collaborating in a networked environment

17. Wikis
• Use for:
– Collaborative learning
– Knowledge construction
• FAQs, Annotated Bibliography, Group Summary
– Critical thinking
• What If Scenarios, Case Studies, Debates, Evaluations
– Contextual application
• Process Map, Field Research Project
Source: Using Wikis for Online Collaboration

18. Wikis
• Use for:
– data collection
– collaboration on group projects
– group research projects
– brainstorming concept maps/research topics
– create shared, online resources
– peer review/editing tool

19. Wikis
• Use for:
– project planning
– test review/study guides
– build annotated bibliography
– create a glossary of common terms
– summarize thoughts on a reading
– build a questionnaire

20. Wikis
• Wikis in Plain English (video)
http://www.commoncraft.com/video-wikis-plain-englis
• PB Works Educator Forum
http://educatorforum.pbworks.com/headlines/

21. Wikis
• Tools:
– Teams LX (in Blackboard)
– Wikispaces
http://www.wikispaces.com/
– PB Works
http://pdworks.com
– Zoho Wiki
http://wiki.zoho.com/

22. Wikis
• Selecting the Right Tool
– What experience do you want your students to have?
– Who should see the wikis?
– How long will the wikis continue?

25. Consider how you name your wiki.

27. http://usermanual.pbworks.com/ and
http://pbworks.com/content/supportcenter