3 Web tools come to mind immediately. Blogs, Wikis and Websites.
Originally the web was simply one directional. That is, people posted information, or uploaded information and others read it, or interacted this way.
With the advent of Web 2.0 tools becoming available, the internet fast became a place where information could grow and be created. Blogs became the place for people to share the good and the bad, and in some instances the very ugly about what they had been doing. An online journal for recording reflections. David F Warlick in his text 'Classroom Blogging' discusses tools that are shaping a new information landscape.
In his great explanation about blogging, he reminds us that blogs are personal. They are one of the ways that an individual cam express personal beliefs. With this in mind there are many ways that blogs can be designed.
Typically blogs have similar components.
Banner
This establishes the theme for your blog. Usually if you click the banner, it will take you to the most recent post. Remember that the focus of your blog is content so excessive use of colour and graphics can distract from the content.
Blog title
This should be thought through as it conveys to readers the content of your posts.
Subtitle
This simple statement should describe the main focus of your blog.
Links
Usually you might want to reinforce or substantiate what's in your blog, so you might link to the web sites of suitable pages. Many bloggers also link to other bloggers.
Calendar
Often a blog has a calendar. It might highlight the days that posts were added.
It is important that your blog page not distract the reader from the content, however pictures are often a great way to convey a point. Use them if they are suitable.
I have a flickr account where I store my photos.
Bogging with students
Once you've mastered blogging yourself, you might want to consider how to blog with students.
With anything in the classroom that's a bit new and different my first advice would be to start small. Get students used to reading blogs. Set up a list of blogs that might be appropriate for the phase and subject you are teaching. Because good blogging starts with good reading (according to Will Richardson) it is important that you provide the students with some good models to follow.
Upon mastering the blogs, you might want to get students to begin by responding to some of the blogs you follow. You might consider having small groups of students begin by creating their own posts before you set up individual blogs for the students in your class.
If you are an Education Queensland teacher you can check out blogs and how to do them on the Learning Place. http://education.qld.gov.au/learningplace/
Regardless of how you use blogs in the classroom or for personal use, online safety is paramount.
