We will offer ideas to "jump start" your thinking and hope you will share your ideas as you learn how to use web 2.0 tools. The design of this online program was completely built on Web 2.0 technologies that are freely available on the Internet. These sites include: Blogger, FlickrCC, TeacherTube, PBWorks & Google Reader, and many others. Some you might be very familiar with and others you may have never tried.

Over the course of the next several weeks, this website will highlight "23 Things" (more or less) and discovery exercises to help you become familiar with blogging, RSS feeds, tagging, wikis, podcasting, online applications, video and image hosting sites, and more.

So fasten your seat belts, grab your mouse and get ready for a discovery adventure… and remember, it's OK to play in school and have fun! 

If you've ever kept a diary or a journal, you know the basics of blogging. On a regular basis, you write new entries (we call these posts). Blogging serves much the same purpose as traditional journals, but they go one step further. Blogs can be a place to reflect and organize your thoughts with others via comments on your posts. It's a way to start a conversation with people who are interested in the same ideas you are!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rZ55f_svLuM

There are many different platforms to choose from! Shop around and see which site appeals best to you.

SIMPLE and FAST:

Try Posterous or Tumblr. These blog platforms are pared down and minimal. You can even create a post via email with Posterous! Choose one of these if you want to get off to a quick start. (Note on Tumblr: You have to go through a few extra steps to get comments working.  Check it out here.)

FULL-FEATURED and POWERFUL:

Try Blogger, WordPress, Edublogs, or TypePad. Blogs created with these platforms are more versatile and can accommodate more customization. They have all the basic features, but also allow advanced users to tinker “under the hood” if that’s important to you. Choose one of these if you’re looking to kick it into high gear!

Ms. Darnell's blog: Awaken Librarian.

Now it's time for you to create your own blog: Choose from the following blog hosts.

Posterous | Tumblr | Blogger| WordPress | Edublogs | TypePad

On your blog, tell me a little about yourself, your interests, your favorite subject in school and how you plan to use the blog to better yourself in an academic way. Make sure your background is engaging and inviting. No crazy colors or fonts!

Rubric:

• Biography
• Interest/Favorites
• Plans to use the blog
• Christmas List
• Inspirational story 

Email your blog to duchessofmycastl@gmail.com. You can also post the URL for your blog here as a comment.