Readings 1
COMMUNITIES AND HOW THEY WORK

i) The Benefits of communities
Description: A short post that looks at the benefits of communities and compares them to courses

ii) Advice for the online instructor: keep it interpersonal
Description: Mastering technology is one thing, but what will really make your blogging project successful is if the online experience is interpersonal.

iii)

Readings 2:
ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION

i) Creative use of threaded discussion areas
Description: Why it’s important to do more than just build the tools and expect learners to use them

ii) The role of the online instructor
Description: Some ideas of what to do and how to keep learners interested

iii) Online tutoring skills
Description: the article looks at online tutoring in general and discusses the skills the moderator needs when involved in discussions, email, chat, etc.

Readings 3 :
GROUPS AND LEARNING

i) Creative use of threaded discussion areas
Description: this short text looks at fostering group participation and group dynamics

ii) Handbook for instructor electronic class discussion
Description: While not specifically aimed at bloggers, this comprehensive handbook has plenty of useful ideas that can be related blogging

iii) Groups that work by Gerard M Blair
Description: Discusses the fundamentals behind groups that work well, and four stages: forming, storming, norming and performing

Readings 4 :
ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE E-LEARNING

i) E-tivities
Description: Discusses the key principles for designing e-tivities for learners

ii) Concrete steps for online discussion
Description: Although aimed at threaded discussion areas, the advice could be adapted for blogs

iii) Learning works
Description: A blog post that mentions new learning such as CoPs

Readings 5
Being an effective MODERATOR

i) Roles and competencies of online teachers
Description: What online teachers need to be aware of

ii) Wearing four pairs of shoes: the roles of e-learning facilitators
Description: This article argues there are four roles an online instructor needs to be aware of

iii) Eight Ways to Get Students More Engaged in OnlineConferences
Description: How to encourage posting, and avoid students lurking, among other things