Thing+2

=Thing 2: Become a Blogger=

Introduction
A blog is one of the core publishing/communication tools of Web 2.0. A blog, at its simplest, is a website containing an archived series of posts (newest on top), organized by categories (or tags), with a place for readers to leave comments.

Readers can subscribe to the blog using a special type of code called an RSS (or similar) feed. A blog may have one or many authors, and can be about any topic, from personal to political to professional.

Blogging can provide teachers and students with an authentic opportunity to express themselves, synthesize ideas from many sources, engage in discussion and debate, write for an audience beyond the classroom, reflect on their own learning, teach and mentor others, and connect with peers and experts around the globe. As you work through the next few "Things," and the remainder of the course, you will begin to learn more about blogs and their powerful potential for personal and professional learning, reflection and communication.
 * Blogs connect ideas and people.**


 * Today, the primary goal is to get you "up and blogging."** Your personal blog is the __**most important component**__ of the CMS Learns Web 2.0 (aka CMS 23 Things) course. You will use your blog to document your learning, discoveries and experimentation throughout the course. It will also serve as your **course portfolio**, or record of completion. For the purpose of this course, Google's Blogger will be our preferred blogging platform. For tips on using Blogger and maximizing your CMS 23 Things blogging experience, visit the Thing 1.5 page.

**Discovery Exercise**
As you watch the video below, consider the term "NEWS" as meaning any content or topic that is relevant to you and/or your students.

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 * Blogs in Plain English** (3:00)

Getting Started
If you have not already done so in "Thing 1.5," set up your blog at [|Blogger].


 * NOTE:** You may choose to blog under your real name or a pseudonym/username, but your blog content should always be school appropriate. Course facilitators and other participants will know who you are, but the "world" doesn't have to.

**¤ IMPORTANT:** **Your blog will serve as the record of your learning in this course.**

 * If you are wondering how long your blog posts need to be:**
 * Your blog posts should be //as long as they need to be// for you to **meaningfully express your thoughts and reflect on your learning**. You will get out of the course what you put in and remember that others will be reading your posts and learning from them.
 * Please make sure that you **address in your posts what you are asked to write about**. If not, I will ask you to elaborate further in order to receive credit for the post.
 * Think about your students and what you would expect from, and put those expectations into your post.

Before you get started blogging, please consider the following: You may also want to read Richard Bryne's [|11 Things You Should Know About Blogging] before you begin your tasks.
 * Tips for a Richer Power of Web 2.0 Blogging Experience**
 * Your blog will be as meaningful as you make it. Invest in your reflections and spend a little time crafting your posts. **Take time to link**, **format your text** and **possibly add images**. Feel free to go beyond the minimum posting requirements. The blog is truly yours.
 * **Be brave when posting** and **celebrate your learning**. We all struggle and experience frustration and can benefit from hearing about others' experiences. We also want to hear about your discoveries and problem-solving triumphs!
 * ** Be generous in commenting on other participants blogs **. Blogging is meant to engage readers in two-way communication. We are a community of learners. If you take a little time to encourage and respond to others' posts, they will respond in kind.

Tasks

 * Task 1:** After you have set up your blog at [|Blogger], write the following **post**. Always be sure to include the **Thing # in the Post Title**.

**POST 1: From Thing 1 - Thoughts about Web 2.0 **
Please label your post **Thing 1 - Thoughts about Web 2.0** Complete a blog post reflecting on your initial thoughts about Web 2.0 and its role in 21st Century Teaching and Learning. Consider the ways in which Web 2.0 tolls might change (or have already changed) your professional practice. How might you be able to use these new tools to engage today's "digital learners?" Why would you want to? How might you be able to use these tools to support your own learning?

** HELP Video: **[|Blogger Video Tutorials] Created by an educator for educators. ** HELP Video: **How to add images to your blog post (coming soon)


 * Task 2:** "Register" your blog. Return to the Google tracking spreadsheet from Thing 0. (Log into your Google account and click **Documents** to access it) and **add your blog address to your spreadsheet listing**.