Weblogs in Education 101

Figure 1: Definition from OS X Tiger’s Oxford English Dictionary.

According to Wikipedia, the online wiki-encyclopedia, a weblog, or blog, is a “web-based publication consisting primarily of periodic articles (normally, but not always, in reverse chronological order).” Why all the fuss then?

Blogs put publishing and widespread distribution within easy reach of everyone and anyone with access to a computer and an internet connection. In an educational setting, this can be invaluable, both because of the low cost to educators and for students. It’s also useful for teaching students the responsibility of writing and of public life.

There are also possible political ramifications of blogging as a form of grassroots journalism. For example, the handbook for bloggers and cyber-dissidents from reporters without borders serves bloggers who may be

the only real journalists in countries where the mainstream media is censored or under pressure. Only they provide independent news, at the risk of displeasing the government and sometimes courting arrest.
Reporters Without Borders has produced this handbook to help them, with handy tips and technical advice on how to to remain anonymous and to get round censorship, by choosing the most suitable method for each situation. It also explains how to set up and make the most of a blog, to publicise it (getting it picked up efficiently by search-engines) and to establish its credibility through observing basic ethical and journalistic principles.

[Work in progress]