Blogs, short for "web logs", are starting to make a name for themselves on the web and throughout the world. So much so that soon an explanation of just what a blog is won't be necessary as blogs are moving towards the mainstream. Setting up a blog is a fairly simple matter. There are a variety of tools available to "Bloggers", as well as a variety of blog "accessories." Some of these tools and accessories require only the basic knowledge of using a web browser, while other tools-more robust ones-need some knowledge of configuring web scripts, uploading files, and HTML coding.

In order to advance the adoption of this writing tool Bowling Green State University (BGSU) has collected a series of resources which can be used to make a blog, as well as ideas about how blogs can be used in the composition classroom as both writing practice and content.

Blogs can be more than either a semi-public/semi-private diary or rich source material for academic study. The ability to publish and share text on the web quickly, simply, and with a minimum of computer knowledge opens up a number of new possibilities for the classrooms as well. A collection is offered on the BGSU website and should give some sense of how real blogs are being used by real academics. Examples of blogs as classroom content are also available.

To learn more about the work BGSU has done with blogs visit this website.

 
Image courtesy of Bowling Green State University.