Today's task was to think about the usefulness of blogs for educational purposes. I have enjoyed exploring a wide range of blogs but I think the best example was the blog which accompanied the Ethics and Religion course at the University of Gloucestershire.

This has a clear purpose which is crucial for a successful blog, it was very elegantly presented which made it a pleasure to read and very tempting to keep returning, the tone was friendly yet authoritative and it included everything from philosophical essays to details of a forthcoming trip.

I think students would find it easy to navigate and be reassured that the site was properly moderated. Definitely something to consider for my own courses.

In contrast, I wasn't as impressed by the other blogs which seemed rather more vague and self indulgent. SLE102 seemed to be more about the blogger's interests than the student's - although it did provide some insight into terms which I had heard about but didn't understand - like 'twitter'!

I'm certainly looking forward to twittering and blogging with my own students next academic year!

Google Blog Search

I'm finding it really intriguing to see how swiftly bloggers respond to the news. One of my tasks on this module is to use the Google Blog search. I decided to look at the story regarding the death of the eight year old girl from starvation after having all her milk teeth removed. Even though I have spent eight years as a broadcast media researcher at the BBC I found the wealth of material which was suddenly at my finger tips absolutely incredible!

I started off by looking at the more reputable news blogs such as the Independent and Euro News and then meandered off down lots of cul-de-sacs from dreams about milk teeth to anecdotes about losing teeth. I think this is a salutary lesson about checking the authority of facts before citing things from the Internet - something students and news organisations should always remember!

This has certainly given me something to think about when I am marking student's work - those essays where certain sections seem as though they have come from the Internet but are difficult to trace. Google Blog is something I will bear in mind ....!

It's been a really busy 24 hours! My students really enjoyed hearing about how an actress brings a character to life on the stage - so that was a success which gave them lots to think about.

Since then my wallet has disappeared (luckily handed into reception this morning) but only after I had cancelled all my cards and informed the police.

So my blogging time has disappeared this morning. I've just enjoyed a recital from some Japanese students attending Oberlin University in the College Chapel so I thought I would explore the blogging world a bit further.

So far I have looked at Nic Robinson's blog which is topical, punchy with lots of fascinating comments from other bloggers - it's great to be part of a community who are all eagerly thinking about current affairs.

However, I much prefer Samuel Pepys Diary - I have used this before (in hard copy) with first year students who were studying seventeenth-century literature as it gives them a real insight into society. So you can imagine how delighted I am to have the opportunity to explore this blog - especially as it gives alternative journals and contemporary comments. A real find!

Blog 1

I can't believe I have just set up my own blog! Nor how simple it is to do! I thought it would take weeks and be incredibly technical. I feel that I have really entered the technological age! :)

I'm looking forward to entering more posts during the week but at the moment I am just about to go and teach. I have invited a local actress to come and speak to my second year drama students so it should be an interesting afternoon.