As a part of KSU’s technology class this summer, I’m reading Will Richardson’s Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other powerful Web Tools for Classrooms.  Chapters 2 and 3 discuss one of the most applicable technology tools for the classroom today – weblogs (or blogs, as I’m writing here).  As you know, this is my first blog.  As a newbie, I’m interested to hear how Richardson defines blogging.  Although blogs can (and are) used for many activities, real blogging begins when the reader/writer

Links with analysis and synthesis that articulate a deeper understanding or relationship to the content being linked and written with potential audience response in mind (31).

I love the idea of audience response.  How many times when writing a paper would you love to have asked a question of your reader and actually get a response? 

Of course, Richardson encourages the newbie to start small with your first blog (whew!).  I could start by posting assignments for a class on the blog (a class portal), having students journal (record of activities), posting links, or posting links with descriptive annotations or some simple analysis of the content of the linked site. 

Here are a few links to blogs that Richardson recommends for the newcomer to this new genre of writing and reading:

David Jakes’ blog “The Strength of Weak Ties” – this is a popular “edu” blog

Secret Life of Bees - collaborative space between students and author

Anne Davis of Conyers, GA and her “The Write Weblog” - 5th graders love blogging!

SupportBlogging.com - peruse blogs of interest

Edublogs Award site

Enjoy these sites if you are new to blogging like I am.