Weblogs

toc A [|weblog], or "blog," can be viewed from several different perspectives. It is a website, a chronological and topical diary, and a syndicated publication.


 * A Blog is a Webpublishing Platform**

All websites have unique web addresses (called URLS; such as http://nisc.wikispaces.com); blogs are no exception. Blogs can be viewed through any standard web browser and look like standard web pages, however while webpages are static (do not allow comments and are usually written in html code), blogs are dynamic (have a comment area and are powered by a database and written in css code). Blogs consist of a collection of individual posts in inversed chronological order, which are identified by a title, date and a permanent link (permalink).

Other links can be added to the sidebar to help readers to access outside material or other people´s blogs. Blogs may link to other web pages (using external links), and any existing web page can link to a blog or any page inside the blog.


 * A Blog is a Diary**

Traditionally, diaries are chronological written records of one person's thoughts, feelings and opinions. Translating to the online world, a blog adheres to a very similar pattern. The owner of a blog creates posts (the equivalent of diary entries), which are automatically stamped with the time and date. Typically, a blog's main page displays recent entries, with the most current one at the top. Readers of the blog can then read current and recent entries with no further effort, and may search the blog archives (typically through a calendar-like interface) for older content.

There are two big differences between blogs and diaries (besides the obvious: the privacy of a real diary as opposed to the publicity of a blog). One is the addition of category tags, which can be defined by the blog creator and then attached to individual posts. This makes it possible to categorize posts so that blog readers can more easily find specific content.

The key difference, however, is the ability to comment on posts. Subject to the blog owner's preferences, anonymous or identified readers may add written comments to any post. This makes possible discussions that have the flavor of internet message boards dating back to [|UseNet] and its various [|BBS] antecedents. The blog owner himself may respond to comments by adding his own comments.

One important concept in blogging is the [|permalink]. Each blog post has its own unique web address (URL), so rather than linking to the blog a whole, a web page may link to a particular blog entry. This makes it very easy for the blogging community to have a dialogue. One blogger may post on a particular topic, and the reader may then comment on the post and link to his own blog post. The blogging community is quite active, and most serious bloggers have a list of other bloggers that they regularly follow and comment on (their [|blogroll]).


 * A Blog is a Publication**

The key feature of any syndicated publication, such as a magazine or newspaper, is the ability to subscribe to it. If you know that you enjoy reading Time Magazine on a weekly basis, you can save yourself a lot of effort by subscribing. Rather than needing to remember to buy one every week at the store, you then need only wait for each issue to arrive in the mail.

Several systems exist for [|syndicating content on the Web]. The two common ones are [|RSS] and [|Atom], and most blogs employ one or the other (or both) to publish their content. A blog will publish one or several [|web feed links] that allow a user to subscribe. Just as with traditional publications, you can access blogs a la carte without subscribing, or you can subscribe to one or more of their feeds if you want to automatically receive updates as they occur.

In order to subscribe, you must use an [|aggregator], which is responsible for keeping track of your web feed subscriptions and updating the the contents on a regular basis. There are [|many types of aggregators]. Some web browsers have built-in aggregators. There are also plenty of stand-alone programs that are dedicated to that one function. Finally, web-based aggregators allow you to keep track of your subscriptions without any special software, and have the advantage of independence from any one computer.

Examples

 * Online Weblog Creation Tools**: Nearly all of the weblog creation tools that appear below are free.
 * 1) [|Blogger]
 * 2) [|MSN's Live Spaces]
 * 3) [|WordPress]
 * 4) [|Yahoo! 360]
 * 5) [|Typepad]
 * 6) Nearly all "social networking websites" ([|Myspace], [|Xanga], and [|Facebook]) incorporate weblogs or blog characteristics.


 * Examples of Existing Weblogs**

Internet Safety Weblogs:
 * 1) [|Parry Aftab's Weblog]

Educational Technology Weblogs:
 * 1) [|Weblogg-ed]: Will Richardson (educator)
 * 2) [|Speed of Creativity]: Wesley Fryer (educator)
 * 3) [|The Shifted Librarian]: ALA Librarian
 * 4) [|The Spiral Notebook]: Edutopia's blog

Classroom Examples of Weblogs:
 * 1) [|8th grade Classroom Book Discussion with Author]

Resources

 * 1) [|Blogging Letter]
 * 2) Wikipedia links: [|Blog], [|Web syndication], [|Aggregator]
 * 3) [|Leading educational technologist Will Richardson's Wiki Page with Blog Description, Examples, and Resources]