Contribute: Blog (or Wiki or Webpage) Your Work

Originally we had said that anything on the web can be linked from the Program for Online Teaching site, so it's up to you what format you want to use to document and share your experiences in the certificate program.

However, as of September 5, 2008 it became apparent that wikis and webpages will not work for the certificate program, because they have limitations on feeds and commenting that will hamper interaction and community.

Therefore, all faculty working toward a certificate need to open a blog, and create ongoing postings there.

Blogs

Weblogs keep your entries organized by date, and allow uploading and linking. Some free blog programs are:

• Edublogs
• Blogger.com (associated with Google)
• Wordpress.com (most powerful)
• Tumblr (simplest)

Other webapps you can also use to supplement your blog

Not all things you might want to do for the certificate will fit easily into the blogging format. There are many, many other web applications that you can use to share ideas, and all can be linked from your blog. Every online instructor should have familiarity with at least a few of these:

• VoiceThread - create slideshows and have others add voice comments
• Zoho Notebook - keep a public notebook with notes, images, video
• Webnode - very much like a blog or wiki, and easy to set up
• Del.icio.us - this and other social bookmarking sites can be used to not only keep track of sites you find useful, but you can comment on them too
• Pageflakes - this and other feed aggregators (also called start pages) can create a webpage with RSS feeds from blogs you read or groups you join
• Flickr - photos and images can be annotated and commented on (great for visual people!)
• Facebook - used by many for social networking, it can also be used for content
• Wikis: Wikis are editable web pages, some with easy to use interfaces. Although they're usually used to communicate among people (like the POT Certificate Wiki), you can also use one to store information and documentation. Some free wikis are:
  • Wikispaces
  • PBWiki
  • Wetpaint

Some sample blogs

A number of graduate courses also use student blogs to track their progress, and our approach is similar. Here are some sample blogs from ed tech graduate courses:

• http://mathman33.blogspot.com/
• http://mgillanders.edublogs.org/
• http://angiebalkwill.wordpress.com/

And a couple from professors and teachers:

• http://teachonline2008.blogspot.com/
• http://learningcollegedialogue.blogspot.com/ (to 2007 only)

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