Blogs, Wikis, Forums, Groups are all tools used to communication on the Internet. Choosing the wrong tool to complete any task can waste time and become easily frustrating. Take a little time to investigate the tools below to understand what's available and determine which one best matches your skill level and classroom goals.
What is a forum?
An online discussion group, where participants with common interests can exchange open messages.
Nicenet is sponsored by a non-profit organization of Internet professionals who give their time to provide services to the education community.
To try out the forum concept and contribute to our online technology discussion, click on the direction link below to view login/participation directions.
What is a blog?
A blog (sometimes referred to as a weblog) is a Web publishing tool that allows authors to quickly and easily self-publish a whole array of content - including text, artwork, links to other blogs or Web sites.
Blogs are set-up like conventional Web sites, with navigation links, and other standard Web site features. Blogs have one standard characteristic, however: the posting. Blog postings are text entries, similar to a diary or journal, which include a posting date and may allow and include comments by people other than the author, photos, links, or other digital media.
Postings are often short and frequently updated. They appear in reverse chronological order and can include archived entries.
Although blogs have been around for years, they have recently gained in popularity and consequently have received more media coverage.
Blog Talk
Blogger:any contributor to a blog
Blogging: the processes of creating or maintaining a blog
multi-Blog: an online "conversation" taking place between several blogs
Blogs work well for students because they can be worked on at virtually any time, in any place with an Internet-enabled computer. Hence, they can be used by computer savvy teachers to create a classroom that extends beyond the boundaries of the school yard
Blogs in Education Resources
Try out or at least have a look at the book review site that I created about "Wicked - The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory McGuire: http://communityms.edublogs.org/
Find out about creating your own blog:
https://www.blogger.com/start
http://edublogs.org/
This page is designed to provide you some resources if you want to get started using blogs for yourself or with your students. http://awd.cl.uh.edu/blog/
What the heck is a wiki?
"A wiki is a web site that lets any visitor become a participant: you can create or edit the actual site contents without any special technical knowledge or tools. All you need is a computer with an Internet connection. A wiki is continuously “under revision.” It is a living collaboration whose purpose is the sharing of the creative process and product by many. One famous example is Wiki-pedia, an online encyclopedia with no “authors” but millions of contributors and editors. The word "wiki" comes from Hawaiian language, meaning "quick" or "fast."" To learn more, check out Teacher First Wiki Walk Through
More wiki information:
Education World - Get Wild About Wikis
Wikispaces Tour (audio/video)
What the heck is a wiki? by PBWIKI
WetPaint Wiki
Easy to learn, use wiki site for educators:
Use a wiki for easy web pages that let you collaborate. Easy way to get your syllabus online and a tool to let your students collaborate online.
http://pbwiki.com/edu.html