Weblogs & Online Journal

Aug 25, 2005 at 03:16 o\clock

Overview

What will you learn?
This blog is to provide skills to set up a web-blog. By completion of all entries in this blog you will be able to
    1. Describe what weblog is
    2. Compare different types of weblogs, such as text-blog, audio-blog & photo-blog
    3. Identify the applications of weblog
    4. Identify weblog services providers
    5. Create the weblog
Important
  1. the developer of the “Weblogs & Online Journal” weblog is currently seeking approval of the owners of all website and weblog content to be used in this blog for educational purpose only without any commercial benefit.

  2. Each visitor to the “Weblogs & Online Journal” weblog is solely responsible for all data, content and images they post as a comment to this blog.

  3. Teachers should be aware of legal issues, such as Copyrights, Intellectual Property, Child Protection, Ethnical and Privacy Issues, if you recommend your students use weblog, please consult the Legal Consultants in your country for more details.

Aug 25, 2005 at 02:27 o\clock

What is Weblog?

Is Weblog as simple as

"Weblog = Web + Log" ??

Definition of weblog..
    • "Weblog is kind of a log book or diary. However, not all weblogs are diaries...", "...Nevertheless, weblogs have one thing in common with traditional diaries: it is as esay to have a weblog as writing in a diary." (http://www.blogigo.co.uk/p_tour.php?parStep=2, Accessed on 27 August 2005)
    • "A BLOG is your easy-to-use web site, where you can quickly post thoughts, interact with people, and more. All for FREE." (http://www.blogger.com, Accessed on 27 August 2005)
    • "A weblog (usually shortened to blog...) is a web-based publication consisting primarily of periodic articles..." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weblog, Accessed on 27 August 2005)
    • "A peronal Web site that provides updated headlines and news articles of other sites that are of interest to the users, also may include journal entries, commentaries and recommendations compiled by the user; also written web log, Weblog; also called blog" (Webster's New Millennium Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.6), http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=weblog, Accessed on 27 August 2005)
   
Activity 1 - What does weblog mean to you?
 
Please try to explain what weblog means to you in the Comment box below. When you finish, please click on the Submit comment botton.

Aug 25, 2005 at 02:25 o\clock

Types of Weblog

In this topic, we will explore different types of Weblog which are text-blog, audio-blog and photo-blog.

Activity 2 - What type(s) of media do you use in your weblog?
 
Please list different types of media to be used in your weblog on paper.
 
Different types of weblog allow us to use different media. The following shows some basic features and examples of different types of weblog.

    Text-blog

    • Text-blog uses text as its major communication channel. It allows us to post entires to our blog. Visitors can leave comments that are related to a particular entry
    • Some text-blog services providers may allow us to put photos and images in our entries. However some of text-blog services providers do not provide storage for our photos and images. We need to store our photos and images in Online Photo Album or Photoblog Services Providers.

    Photo-blog

    • Photo-blog is also called as photography blog and/or picture log. The major content of Photoblog is photographs, images and pictures. Most Photoblog allow visitors to leave comment on associated entry
    • Photo-blog Services Providers provide certain amount of storage to save our photographs, pictures and images

    Audio-blog

    • Audio-blog is also called as music blog and/or MP3 blog. It allows us to share our audio media and to seek comments from visitors. The format of the audio media file usually a MP3 format.
    • Audio-blog Services Provides provide storage for saving our audio files. It also allows to post audio/voice entries via telephone.
Most Weblogs contain different types of media, such as texts, images and/or audio, to engage and motivate the target audience.  Those Bloggers (Weblog developers and/or owners) may use combination of text-blog, photo-blog and/or audio-blog.

Activity 3 - What type(s) of weblog can meet your needs?

Please list your answer in the "Comment box" below. When you finish, click on the "Submit comment" button.


Aug 25, 2005 at 02:12 o\clock

Applications of Weblog

Weblog can be applied in various areas and not limited in "Online Diary" and "Online Journal". Try to visit the following sample Weblogs to identify the application of each weblog.

Samples of Weblogs:

Weblog - 1 

Weblog - 2

Weblog - 3

Weblog - 4

Weblog - 5 

Weblog - 6

Weblog - 7

Weblog - 8

Weblog - 9

Activity 4 - Identify application of each sample weblog

Please try to list the application of each sample Weblog in the "Comment box" and click on the "Submit comment" button when you finish.

Aug 25, 2005 at 01:52 o\clock

Weblog Services Providers

There are many Weblog Services Providers offering the following common features.
  • posting text entries
  • posting photographs
  • allowing visitors to leave comment
Some providers also offer the following extra features.
  • calendar
  • polls
  • moderation of visitors' comments

The following Weblog Services Providers are listed for your reference.

Blogigo              http://www.blogigo.co.uk/
Blogger           http://www.blogger.com/start
Xanga
             http://www.xanga.com/
Audioblogger      http://www.audioblogger.com/
Audioblog        http://www.audioblog.com/
Fotopages      http://www.fotopages.com/
Livejournal      http://www.livejournal.com/doc/tour/          

Activity 5 - What is your favourable weblog services provider(s)?

Please share your favourable weblog services provider(s) in the "Comment box" below and click on "Submit comment" when you finish.

Aug 25, 2005 at 01:01 o\clock

Creation of a Weblog

Three major steps for setting up a Weblog are
  1. Creating your account in a Weblog Services Provider (creating your username & password)
  2. Setting up your Weblog (naming your blog and choosing a template)
  3. Adjusting your Weblog settings (settings for publishing, formatting, commenting, archiving, site feed, emailing and members)

Activity 6 - Create a weblog

  1. Click here to open the "Online Tutorial - Setting Up A Weblog" and follow the steps to create your Weblog
  2. Please enter the name and URL of your Weblog in the "Comment box" and click on "Submit comment" button when you finish.

Aug 25, 2005 at 00:12 o\clock

Course Evaluation

Please leave your feedback in the "Comment box" and click on "Submit comment" button when you finish.