wordpress.com

TECH TIP # 4 Svetlana Gómez
[] Wordpress.com is a free open source application that allows you to create a blog in which you can write about anything you like and is connected to a global community.

Here is a sample video: media type="youtube" key="RnBlOFe-O0s" height="345" width="420" First you have to sign up for an account and then you can start blogging in seconds. Then, you publish your post and can get feedback from other bloggers.
 * How wordpress.com works:**

It´s free and easy to use. You have total control over your blog, be creative, customize, track comments, and more. You have access to many posts around the world. It saves your posts automatically. Spam mail is blocked. It has a full feature dashboard that, at first, may look too complicated. You have to create an account in order to use it, as opposed to other writing sites where you don´t need to create an account. **Wordpress.com in the classroom:** Students can be engaged by either following the teacher´s blog where he/she can post all the information for the class and also, the teacher can make students create their own blog, so they can do homework, like exercises, summaries, and collaborative project online. In addition, students can read and comment on a couple of other students to give suggestions or expand their knowledge on the given topic or assignment. In this way, the students can use their creativity as they customize their blog and more likely, they would have to think critically before posting their work and by giving feedback to other student´s blog, they will clarify and understand better the concepts taught in class. [|www.blogger.com] It seems to be simpler and more straightforward because it doesn´t have as many features as wordpress.com. I guess it will depend on the assignment and your audience tech skills to decide which one you want to use. www.wikispaces.com You have to keep saving your work and only one member can make changes at a time. If someones erases something by mistake, only the teacher can fix it. Wordpress.com can make learning fun, by giving students the freedom to customize their blog as they wish and by interacting with other students to come to a better understanding on the subject.
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 * Wordpress.com and similar products:****﻿**