How a blog differs to a website

The use of online web pages that inform parents about school expectations and organisation are common in New Zealand schools. These school web sites are generally static pages administered by a single individual with a certain level of expertise.

By contrast, a blog is an ongoing chronicle of information created by individuals or groups to share events and experiences. They can be created using software that allows people with little or no technical background to  easily become regular bloggers.

Bloggers typically update their blogs often, make use of links to articles or other web sites and blogs, and invite their readers to comment on the blog posts.

Blogs are generally public and posts can be read by anyone on the Internet. Even if an administrator deletes a post or comment, it may have already been archived elsewhere on the web.

Ensuring that staff, students and the community have a shared understanding of the purpose and expectations of an educational blog is a fundamental step.  A school blog is in essence an extension of the classroom and can be a learning tool that promotes conversations and thinking outside of regular class time.