Here’s a riddle: you are reading one right now. What is it? Answer: a blog! islandclass.org is a blog, and every lesson on it is a blog post.
In this post:
- What a blog is, and the parts of a blog
- How people use blogs: as a personal web page, an online diary and more
- Comments, and how to write a good one
- Blogs for learning and socialising, plus staying safe
- A comment-writing activity, a sorting activity and a quiz
What is a blog?
The word blog comes from web log, an online log or diary. A blog is a website where one person or a group writes posts (entries) that appear with the newest first. The writer is called a blogger, and writing posts is called blogging.
| Part of a blog | What it is |
|---|---|
| Post | One article or entry, with a title, a date and the author’s name |
| Comments | Replies from readers under a post |
| Categories and tags | Labels that group posts on the same topic, like Form 2 ICT |
| Archive | Older posts, sorted by month or year |
| About page | Tells readers who writes the blog and why |
Free blogging services include WordPress.com and Blogger. You write a post in an editor that works a lot like a word processor, then click Publish.
Image source: File:WordPress PostEdit.png (Wikimedia Commons)
What are blogs used for?
- A personal web page: to share your hobbies, art, photos or opinions with the world.
- An online diary or journal: to write about your day, a trip or a project as it happens.
- Learning: class blogs where teachers post lessons (like this one!) and students share their work, reflections and portfolios.
- News and reviews: about sport, music, games, food or technology.
- Business: companies share tips and news about their products.
Comments and socialising
Most blogs let readers leave comments, which turns a blog into a conversation. Readers ask questions, share ideas and encourage the writer. Many bloggers moderate comments, which means they check each one before it appears, to keep out spam and unkind messages.
A good comment is kind, specific (it says what you liked or learned, or asks a question) and safe (no surnames, addresses, phone numbers or other personal details).
Blogs: good points and bad points
| Good points | Bad points |
|---|---|
| Anyone can share their writing, art or ideas with a real audience | Anyone can post, so some blogs contain mistakes or opinions presented as facts |
| Students can practise writing and get feedback through comments | Unkind or spam comments can appear if they are not moderated |
| Teachers can share lessons that students can read any time | Sharing too much personal information can be unsafe |
| Readers can connect with people who share their interests | Keeping a blog going takes time and effort |
Watch: starting a student blog
Teacher John Spencer explains how to get started with a student blog.
Video: How to Start a Student Blog – John Spencer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjkx1EbEUJM
Activity: write a comment
Try it: comment on a class blog post
Read this pretend class blog post, then write a comment. The checker helps make sure your comment is kind, specific and safe.
Our Trip to the Asa Wright Nature Centre
Posted by Aaliyah, Form 2B
Last Friday our class visited the Asa Wright Nature Centre in the Arima Valley. We saw hummingbirds, a toucan and even the famous oilbirds! Our guide explained that the oilbirds come out at night and find their way in the dark using clicking sounds. My favourite part was the walk through the forest. What would you most like to see there?
💬 Comments
First name only:
Activity: blog or not?
Try it: safe to post on a class blog?
Drag or tap each card into the right box.
OK to post
Do not post
Self-check quiz
Click the best answer. You get feedback straight away; only your first click counts towards your score.
1. The word blog comes from…
2. On a blog, posts usually appear…
3. What is a comment on a blog?
4. What does it mean when a blogger moderates comments?
5. Which is a good, safe comment?
6. Which is a way blogs are used in education?
Related posts on islandclass.org
Next: VoIP vs Landline
Syllabus link: Forms 1–3 ICT curriculum, Module 4, Objective 4.7 – assess the use of web logs (blogs).
Attributions to media used in this post:
- WordPress PostEdit.png – Gmoran6 – GPL (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Video: How to Start a Student Blog – John Spencer (YouTube)
Updates
2026/10/21
– Fixed the activity code so its buttons keep working.
© 2026 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved.