Blogs are being used in many different ways. There's no "right way" to create or maintain a blog. While some are quirky personal diaries, others are professionally posted and reviewed news sources. The key to enjoying or using a blog is understanding its intention. Unlike a personal diary, a blog is generally posted for public viewing and reaction. As such, it's important to understand both the primary author as well as the blog readers and commentators.

Begin your exploration of a blog by looking at the About This Site, FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), and Contact Information. Who is this person and why are they writing? Then, look at a few postings and comments made by readers.

Ask yourself:

• What's the motivation of the author?
• Who reads the blog?
• How did the author envision the blog being used?
• How credible is the information found and what questions should I be asking as I explore the blog?

Go to Analyzing Teen & Teacher Weblogs by Bernie Dodge for a chart to examine teen and teacher blogs.

Learn More about Missions and Evaluating Web Posts

• Assessing Blog Posts by Will Richardson
• Blog Core Values
• Evaluating Blogs by David Warlick
• Evaluating Web Logs by Christina
• Guidelines for Evaluating Classroom Blogs from Kairosnews

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