Bloggs & Web Bloggs (Integrated-Technology (Assignment 2_ Group 3)

1.i) What is a web Blog?

A Web Blog is a website that contains a log or dairy information on specific topics or opinions. In this instance, what you are reading now is a web blog.

Click the link below to listen to a podcast on blogs: 

https://anchor.fm/festus-jackson/episodes/Group-3-Weblog-assignement-e1840dm

Who can create a Web Blog?

Every one is permitted to create a blog online for free, there are a variety of blog websites such as Wordpress, google Ads, and blogger.com etc. that allows individuals to create thier blogs free online.

ii). What are the impportance of a Blogs?

• Helps get your website to be found by diffrent people across the world
• They are long term and you createa legacy, your work will be seen even after you are deceased.
• If you have a Company, blogs are a greate way to advocate your bussines.
• It helps drive traffic to your website
• It helps withlink building

iii). What are some of the common misconseption about Web blogs?

• You need to be famous before you tell your about your blog.
• Each post needs to be perfect, well atleast to get audiance attention
• Using social media will help boost your story's visibility and viewership significantly

iv) What is a blogger?

A word for people who write 

 or comments on bloggs, they often write about their oppinions and & thoughts

v) What is a blogospere?

A blogosphere is a word used to describe the online commuity of bloggers intercations and their writtings. It is usually a social networking service in which everday authors can publish their opinions. Furthuremore, it rewards the loudest voices and the brushest.

vi) How is a web blog different from a website?

• A weblog is a website that is frequently updated and most blogs allow readers to post and comment on your blogs.
• Readers can subscribe to the feed to automatically recieve updates from your next post.

vii) What is a web blog post or  entry?

• An entry, a post are the terms often used to refer to a specefic article or commentrary written by a blogger on his or her website.

viii) What is a comment?

•  A comment is a readers recation to your post. Many Weblogs allow readers to write a reaction to what was written in the blog entry, comments can be found directly following the blog entry.
  
  

  ix. What is the relationship between blogging and journalism?

  Blogging and journalism there is a major difference between, journalism is just facts things that can be true while blogs contains the opinion of the writer.

  
  x. Are weblogs a business or a hobby?

  A blog rely on how it is used so that it can be described as a hobby or business , because some people use blogging to earn income making a profit out of it and some on the other hand they view it as a happy bonus if the make some extra cash.

  
  xi. What is a permalink?

  A permalink these are URLs of the blog posts and pages on your word press, is also a URL that is intended to remain unchanged for many years into the future. permalink are often rendered simply, that is as friendly URLs, so as to be easy for people to type and remember. https://yoast.com/what-is-a-permalink/

  
  xii. What is a blogroll?

  A blogroll is a listing of other blogs that you either subscribe to or that you recommended for someone. A blogroll is often posted on the right side or on the left side of the page on their blogs. http:\computer.howstuffworks.com\internet\basics\blogroll.htm

  
  xiii. Explain what blog pedagogy is?

  Blog pedagogy refers to the explaining of how reflecting improves reading and writing skills. the audience can visualize cognitive thinking, it also prepares the audience to connect the feedback to the blogger to facilitate learning.

  
  1.2 Video and photo editing software
  Final cut pro is a software that can edit or create a movie or a clip in order to teach students on a certain topic
  
  

  Explain how to utilize video and photo editing tools for classroom learning/instructions
  In the last decade, education has evolved significantly. Digital learning innovations and a lot of new tools have been added to the classroom. One of those is Video. Teachers have used video and Vidyard for many a time to engage and educate their students. In some cases, they’ve come up with great ways for students to use video for projects.
  Many school districts find themselves abruptly shifting to virtual classrooms and struggling to maintain continuity of learning, video learning has become a necessity for many educators. Whether you’re a pro at virtual teaching or adapting without any prior experiences, you can add a video to your virtual lesson plans quickly and easily.
  Why you should consider using Video in your classroom.
  Video is the new era’s trifecta: engaging, entertaining, and educational. It is a medium that captures and keeps students on attention and improves learning retention. Recorded asynchronous videos give you greater control over your content than that of a live video call, enabling you to deliver clear, concise information in a professional presentation. Those aren’t the only benefits of adding video to your virtual classroom.
  It’s a majorly popular format across all age groups. Today’s youth have grown up on it and it’s a medium that they’re very comfortable with, one can even say it’s the medium that they’re most comfortable with. 71% of teens spend at least three hours a day watching videos on their smartphones – that’s more time than they spend on messaging, social media, or playing games.
  1) Flipped Classrooms.
  They allow students to never miss a lesson. Essentially, this teaching style allows you to break down your classroom walls and expand to learning outside of the classroom. With a recorded lesson, students can watch an uninterrupted lesson as many times as they need at their own pace. They don’t have to stop at just watching your lessons, they can view information from other teachers and experts.
  Equipment Needed to Produce Videos?
  A recording device like a webcam, camera, or screencasting software, access to editing software like iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, or an online tool, a computer, laptop, or tablet and an online medium to post videos like YouTube, SchoolTube, or Vimeo.
  Consider creating videos using Screencast-o-Matic or Quicktime Player. They allow you to cast what’s on your computer screen. There are some great digital content resources like PBS Learning Media, YouTube, Watch Know Learn, and Discovery Education that are sure to bring amazing experiences for your students.
  
  2) Student assessments
  Why not incorporate some video into your assessment style? Students can show their learning in unique ways, such as recording themselves reading a book, or an essay that they wrote, or recording science experiments. Try using the camera app on your smartphone or smart device to achieve that, or for audio-only, there’s Audioboom.
  Additionally, another tool to use is EDpuzzle – a free platform that allows you to record videos and embed quizzes directly into those clips. You can make any video unique, and edit the video to use only what you need for your lesson. Students can view the videos on the EDpuzzle website, on the app, on your website if you choose to embed the video. Another important piece of information is that EDpuzzle also collects data as students watch and interact with the video, so you can track how they’re progressing.
  Students can show their learning in unique ways, such as by recording themselves reading a book, passage, or an essay that they wrote, or by recording science labs and experiments.
  
  3) Student projects and storytelling

  
  Projects are a norm in classrooms, here are two tools to help students incorporate more storytelling into those projects. These projects don’t need to be confined to your classroom, students could use the following tools to showcase school events through student lead broadcast teams, or news channels.

  1. Present.Me – a free online website that allows you to upload content to an online platform, and record videos of yourself presenting the information. The viewer sees a split-screen, with your presentation on one side, and a video recording on the other.
  2. Videolicious – This free user-friendly tool is great for taking pictures to tell stories. Create a professional-looking video in minutes using the website or app. Kids will feel like they’re in control.
     4) Parent communication
     Worried parents aren’t reading your emails? Instead, add excitement to a weekly parent newsletter or email by creating a video. Using green screen apps like Touchcast or Do Ink, you can create amazing video projects with your students that grab their parent’s attention.
     Try sharing what’s happening in your classroom with student-made animations. A fun way to do this is with Tellagami, a mobile app that lets you create an animated “Gami.” You can use a computer-animated voice or add your own to create animated anticipatory sets to introduce a unit or lesson video. Combine your Gami with iMovie and embed quizzes and other special features.
     5) Professional development best practices
     Teachers can create amazing video recordings of classroom best practices and store them on a website, or YouTube channel using a Ricoh Theta camera that records a 360-degree view of a room. As your skills develop with using video in your classroom, you can look for additional technology tools that help supplement your technology skills.

  Different types of Social Networking and how they are used for educational purposes
  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and WhatsApp are but a few social networking platforms that can be integrated into the classroom to improve learning.
  Technology and social media platforms are integral parts of daily life and integrating them into the classroom are easier than before giving how acclimated many students are to them. Social media platforms offer many different ways in which they are used in the classroom, from sharing announcements to holding lectures, and so much more.
  Social media provides a smoother, more direct communication tool for students, teachers, and parents who can check-in and ask or respond to posted questions. It allows for more e-learning as well. As remote jobs and online classes become more popular, social media can help train students to work from a distance.
  It’s important to understand the impact of social media in education before using it, but we’re of the firm belief that it will help advance students in technology.

  1. Use a Facebook Page to broadcast updates and alerts.
     Facebook is the perfect social media platform to incorporate into the classroom. By sticking to something that everyone already knows, you can skip the hassle of putting instructors and students through a new learning curve when dealing with traditional online classroom dashboards.
     Students can follow the class’s Facebook Page, the instructor can post class updates, share homework assignments, and encourage discussions.
     Even if students are inactive on Facebook, these pages can still be accessed when signed out. Just keep in mind that Facebook Pages are public and anyone with a Facebook account can comment on the posts.
  2. Use a Facebook Group to stream live lectures and host discussions.
     Instructors can create Facebook Groups for their classes – public or private – and stream Facebook Live lectures, post discussion questions, assign homework, and make class announcements. They can keep students engaged during school breaks by posting reminders and assignments to avoid having to review them once school starts.
     By using social media for education, it’s important to enforce a professional boundary, that when creating a Facebook Group, teachers don’t send friend requests. Rather mail a direct link to both the student and parents for access to the Facebook Group.
     Groups are the perfect “home base,” especially for an online course, and can make it easy to connect with students.
  3. Use Twitter as a class message board.
     Twitter can be a great discussion or message board for a class. Teachers can create a single Twitter handle per class and use it every year or they can create a new one for each new academic year. The 280 character limit encourages students to think critically to communicate concisely and effectively. A beneficial skill to develop.
     Teachers can use Twitter for posting assignment due date reminders, share inspirational quotes, helpful links to practice quizzes, and resources. They can also create discussions and Twitter chats around a specific “#hashtag” that the class decides on.
  4. Use Instagram for photo essays.
     Students can make use of Instagram to present a slideshow or graphics in a visually appealing manner. Instagram allows students to practice digital storytelling in ways that other social media platforms may fall short. Class-specific Instagram accounts can be created and deleted once the course is completed if they choose to.
  5. Create a class blog for discussions.
     Creating blog posts provides students with another outlet for digital content that can easily be linked back to their class social channels. Platforms like WordPress, SquareSpace, Wix, Blogger, Tumbler, and Medium all allow teachers to create class blogs. Students can create their user accounts to post a discussion or comment on class prompts. The course syllabus, assignments, updates, and resources can be shared on a blog as a central location.
  6. Assign blog posts as essays.
     Have student create their blog for essays or short-form writing which is a great strategy for combining social media and learning. Blogs as a semester or year-long assignment help to improve student’s short-form writing and critical thinking. Students can respond to weekly prompts as informally and loosely structured as possible. Don’t limit it to just and English or writing class; the use of social media in education can be applied across all subjects.
  7. Create a class-specific Pinterest board.
     Create Pinterest boards for each class and save pins that are relevant to lessons.
     Pinterest is great for instructors to prepare and organize resources, plan lessons, and worksheets for their classes in one platform. They can create boards according to class or subject, and create sub-topic boards for weekly units or all worksheets.
     Through Pinterest, students can also curate a digital bibliography for projects, papers, and group assignments. It allows them to pin websites, books, videos on a single topic to a board, and refer back to it when its time to write.
  8. Include social media links on your school website.
     Simplify it for parents and students to find the school’s social media profile by adding links to the website’s main navigation and create a social media directory that keeps them all in one place. Parents and prospective students will check a school’s website if they’re interested, and by offering more ways to follow the school, creates a different insight into campus life.
  9. Share school events and photos.
     Sharing photos and events around campus, you can attract new students and parents to your school by showcasing what they can expect. Make your school stand out from the rest by highlighting events and extracurriculars. Social media allows you to be more unique and casual rather than following the same mold as school and university websites.
  10. Create interest-based Facebook Groups.
      People tend to be involved in their schools even after they leave – especially university alumni. Create Facebook Groups for current students and alumni to increase engagement and school spirit. Alumni groups, groups for different graduating classes, and groups for different extracurriculars allow students to engage and meet others with common interests.
      These groups can be closed or secret so that they are only viewable by invitation or by approval of a group admin, or they can be open so that potential students can check out the types of conversations and events these groups are having before requesting to join.
  11. Create a social media crisis strategy.
      How would you communicate to the entire campus during an emergency? If it’s a fire, tornado, or another campus emergency, how will your school incorporate social media into their crisis communication plan? Keep parents and students updated on the situation by sharing information about the crisis and if authorities are involved.
      Campuses have set up automated messaging alerts, but using social media will keep even more people updated and informed.  
      
      Explain what is Social Bookmarking and Tag Cloud
      Social bookmarking is the tagging a website with a browser-based tool so you can visit it again. Rather than saving social media posts to your browser bookmarks, you can use different platform features to bookmark them. Because they are online, you can access them anywhere, from any device with an internet connection.
      Tag clouds – also known as a “word cloud” or “weighted list”, is a representation of word popularity or how present certain keywords or “tags” in a blog post are. They are assigned manually to each post by the blog author. Contrary to what one might think, they are not automatically applied.
      How does social bookmarking work?
      In social bookmarking sites, discussed topics are grouped into specific rooms or threads. Users follow content that interests them. By following these contents, you’ll be notified on your feed when new updates appear.
      Social networking tools include:
      • Pinterest
      • Reddit
      • Digg
      Why use social bookmarking?
      Companies and social media marketing managers can find and save valuable content to add to their publishing schedule with social bookmarking. This is a great way to simplify content while speeding up social media growth. Social bookmarking sites allow companies and business leaders to see which topics are popular, recent, and attached to a specific issue.
      How to benefit from social bookmarking
      Social bookmarking sites simplify what’s popular and trending in a specific industry. If your company is in the fashion space, you’ll see what’s the talk between people and show your audience how up-to-date you are by publishing accurate content.
      Benefits include:
      • Ability to find relevant curated content that allows you to build authority on social pages and your blog.
      • Access to high domain authority backlinks for your website to boost your presence on the SERPs
      • Interactions with potential collaborators and influencers to grow your online success.
      Remember that social bookmarking sites frequently frown upon spam and direct advertising. You’ll need to make a sincere effort to share information from relevant sources, not just your website.

  Reference:
  Walters K. (May 2020) – Vidyard.com – https://www.vidyard.com/blog/video-teaching-guide/
  Brown P. (September 2017) – Techlearning.com – https://www.techlearning.com/tl-advisor-blog/12333
  West C. (November 2019) – Sproutsocial.com – https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-for-education/
  https://sproutsocial.com/glossary/social-bookmarking/
  Rausch S. (August 2013) – Evolv.com – https://www.evolv.com/what-is-a-tag-cloud/