Blogs and Microblogs

A blog (weblog) is a website that contains a log or diary of information, specific topics or opinions. A blog author (blogger) links to stories or other websites with relevant and interesting information. These links are typically segregated according to the blog’s topic or subtopic and written in reverse chronological order, meaning that the most current links display at the top of the blog’s home page. Another major characteristic of blogs is the ease of use to post. Prior to blogs, you needed to understand HTML to produce a website or otherwise involve a back-end production team. Blogs opened up online publishing to the masses.

Bloggers post fresh content related to their thoughts or opinions about specific or various topics, while Web loggers refer to information they find relevant and useful.

The importance of a blog is that it allows publishing by non-technical users. In the modern Web, there are many content management systems that allow for easy publishing by non-technical users. Given this, along with the rise of the professional blogger, the line has blurred between personal websites, blogs, and larger online publishers.

Reference: http://www.techopedia.com/definition/5207/web-log-blog

What is a Blog?

  • Blog comes from the term “Web log.”
  • The activity of updating a blog is “blogging” someone who authors a blog is a “blogger.”
  • A shared ongoing online journal where users reflect, share opinions, and engage in commentary on news and events
  • The term blogosphere applies to the collective community of all blogs and their interconnections
  • A microblog is like a blog, but in smaller doses

VIDEO – Blogs in Plain English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI

Blogs vs. websites

  • Blogs are updated frequently
  • Blogs embody a daily journal or news style
  • Bloggers post rather than make web pages Posts are ordered chronologically
  • Blogs can be created without HTML expertise

News Blogging

  • Traditional newspapers are becoming less popular
  • Local blog sites are taking over coverage of neighborhood news
  • Residents become involved in writing news content
  • These blogs are able to provide the latest local information at any time free of charge

Popular Blogging sites

  • Blogger
  • WordPress
  • LiveJournal
  • Blogsome
  • Xanga
  • InsaneJournal
  • JournalFen
  • TypePad
  • FreeVlog
  • Bravenet
  • Edublogs
  • Blog
  • Blogr
  • Blogster
  • Bravenet
  • Multiplyn

Technology Blogs

  • The Tech News Blog
  • Adobe
  • Tim O’Reilly
  • IBM
  • Apple Blog
  • Sun
  • Google
  • Daily Reviewer
  • macBlogger
  • Mashable
  • Engadget
  • Slashdot
  • Boy Genius Report
  • Boing Boing
  • NY Times Technology
  • Slash Gear
  • Make Use OF
  • Tech Crunch

Microblogs

  • Microblog posts are much smaller than traditional blogs
    • Typically 140 – 200 characters per post.
  • Send and receive brief text updates, links, or multimedia
  • Allow authors to update via mobile devices.
  • Ability to market content and share it with a large audience.
  • Twitter is currently the largest and most popular site
    • 75 million visitors in January 2010 alone.

Benefits of Microblogs

  • Share important information using few words.
  • Information can be quickly created and then viewed in real time
  • Other users can respond, comment, and provide feedback quickly
  • One of the best methods to build both individual and company brand awareness.
  • Build personal brands and establish social personalities who are connected and approachable.

Using Microblogs in the Classroom

    • Educators create a community around a class or learning activity
    • Students can provide the instructor with immediate feedback
    • Microblogging can be used both during and after class
    • Foster collaborative student relationships and promote further learning outside of class.
    • Quotes from social media/learning consultant Jane Hart

 

  • “The point of social media is to turn learning into a more participatory activity.”
  • “Microblogs can support both collaboration and understanding.”

 

Using Microblogs in the Workplace and Professional Networking

  • Post regular updates of your work
  • Use sites such as search.twitter.com to locate people
  • Follow large numbers of relevant people
  • Prompt conversations and questions
  • Attract followers of your own
  • Social networks are also an easy means to damage a brand’s reputation according to a recent Deloitte survey.
  • In spite of this, 37% of employees do not consider this prior to posting comments, images and video online.
  • Only 17% of executives report that their companies monitor social networking sites to mitigate risks.
  • Most companies need to create a culture of accountability and encourage employees to make ethical decisions.

TWITTER: Most Popular Microblogging Platform

  • Twitter provides access to people with common interests.
  • Twitter involves knowledge sharing and creation between members of separate networks
  • Twitter hones skills to craft clear and concise messages.
  • Users, those they follow and those who follow them create ever expanding and overlapping resource and knowledge networks.
  • Twitter networks distribute timely, useful information at any time to any member’s location.
  • The Library of Congress is archiving all public tweets that have ever been broadcast via Twitter.

Microblogging sites

  • Twitter
  • Friendfeed
  • Plurk
  • Tumblr.
  • Identi.ca
  • Brightkite
  • Jaiku
  • Koornk
  • You are
  • Qaiku
  • Meemi
  • Mixin
  • Rememble
  • Adocu
  • Sweeter
  • Floort

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