Running Head: Comparison Paper – Web-based Word Processor ...

Running Head: Comparison Paper – Web-based Word Processor and the Blog 1
Comparison Paper – Web-based Word Processor and the Blog
Milagro Tognoni and Daniel Wininger
New Mexico State University

Running Head: Comparison Paper – Web-based Word Processor and the Blog
The World Wide Web used to be a source of information gathered by experts, but has
changed to being a Web full of creations by amateur participants. These amateur participants
include today's students, and many of them would argue they are the experts since they were
born in this digital age. They use Web 2.0 tools to for their own purposes, cruise the Internet
with ease, and use social networks as the new hangout. Teachers must learn to harness their
native skills with technology and use pedagogical understanding to foster learning.
In today's world, communication is an absolute must in all environments. Word
processing is one of several tools that exist to help people to communicate. Word processing is
used in all aspects of life, on the job, in school, to create records- both personal and business
related, developing instructions, memo's, email...it's invaluable. For students, word processing is
a must at every level of their education, the primary grades through college graduation.
What exactly is word processing? According to Rebecca Blood, an author for Wikipedia,
states, “a word processor (more formally known as document preparation system) is a
computer application used for the production (including composition, editing, formatting, and
possibly printing) of any sort of printable material”. Thus, word processing is the use of a word
processor. Word processing packages come in two forms, hard-copy software and web-based
software. Microsoft Word is an example of hard-copy software. A person can go on-line or to a
store and buy a license to use it for personal use, on 1-3 computers. The entire package includes
a CD with other Microsoft programs and How-to instructions. This product cannot be resold or
put onto the Internet for use by anybody else. Examples of Web-based word processors are
AjaxWrite (http://www.ajaxwrite.com/), Google Docs (http://www.docs.google.com/),
Writeboard (http://www.writeboard.com/), and Zoho Writer (http://www.zohowriter.com/).
AjaxWrite has the advantage of being able to read and create Microsoft Word files and is very
2

Running Head: Comparison Paper – Web-based Word Processor and the Blog
close to MS Word in its layout. Zoho Writer is useful because it can accept file formats
including .pdf, .rtf and HTML. Web-based word processors found on the Internet are free can be
used by the public for personal or business work. Because they are Web-based, all the folders
are saved on the Internet and can be reached from any computer with access to the Internet and
for this reason is called a Web 2.0 tool (Schrum & Solomon).
Another Web 2.0 tool that contributes to communication on the Internet is the blog. Blog
comes from the contraction “web log”. It's “a type of website, usually maintained by an
individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as
graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order.” To "blog"
means “to maintain or add content to a blog.” (Blood, 2000) Most blogs are initiated to give the
author an opportunity to comment or post news on a given subject or thought. The author can be
an expert or a novelist writer, and topics and vary from motherhood to teaching strategies. A
blog obviously contains a written record but can also contain images, video, and web links.
Readers can opt to follow the blog and leave comments or use it as a portal to other websites or
blogs. Anybody can start their own blogs by going to sites such as www.blogger.com. The site
www.blogtopsites.com will list top blog sites for interested readers to surf.
These two Web 2.0 tools have applications that can actually be very useful tools for the
classroom. Students have been using the word processor for years; however, if schools switched
over to web-based word processors, then more opportunities would open up. Students could
share documents with other students through the site (Schrum & Solomon). Students working in
groups could use the web-based programs to create a neutral group and be able to work on the
project simultaneously at home or at school. If the teacher created the groups, then he/she would
have full access, which would allow them to edit students' work without ever having to print out
3

Running Head: Comparison Paper – Web-based Word Processor and the Blog
the documents. Of course, using this Web 2.0 tool would allow students to develop basic
computer skills such as typing, formatting, and the use of short cuts to increased efficiency.
Blogging is a similar tool in that it also allows students to develop typing skills; however,
improvement of typing skills is done simply by keeping the blog up to date and continuing to
advance it with additional information. By continuously adding information, students are
creating a living document that can be used throughout the year, a unit, or the student can use it
for personal use. Web links, images, and video can be added to every blog to validate
information or to make the blog more substantial. These blogs are on the Internet, and the posts
can be critiqued, commented on, or reviewed by teachers, students, or anybody else. Finally,
these blogs can be saved to be used later in a student's research or finished product.
Generally, both Web 2.0 tools can be manipulated to accommodate any learning situation;
however, they are not perfect tools and each of them have their faults. Word processing can be a
tedious task for students because it requires them to edit, format, and repeat the process until a
final product is produced. Word-processing is not generally used for informal products. Using
this tool for large group communication can also be difficult. The web-based word processors do
have the ability to share with group members or friends, but some one outside the circle would
have to request a hardcopy or have it email as an attachment. Word processing is not an efficient
way to share your thoughts with a large audience. Finally, when a document is being critiqued, it
can have comments on it from only one individual at a time. A teacher could read it online,
make notes on another document, and then email it back, or write on the document by using a
different color text, then email it back, or comment on the hardcopy, only to return it at a later
date. This is not an efficient way to have real time critique.
A blog can certainly be shared with many readers very quickly; however, the author
4

Running Head: Comparison Paper – Web-based Word Processor and the Blog
should have good writing skills because blog platforms only come with basic tools and
formatting functions. To ensure that the text will be grammatically correct and coherent, the
author should use a word processor to write a version, edit, then cut and paste the text to the
online blog, and then publish, quite a process. A person with HTML skills could write code to
make their blog unique, but this is not a skill shared by many. A blog also requires that the
author has an Internet connection, otherwise the ability to publish it is no longer available.
Comments can be done quite easily, which gives it a real time critique; however, the quality of
comments cannot be assured because anyone can comment. Looking through comments for the
good comments can be a waste of time. Finally, a blog is best when regular entries are
published. If the topic of the blog is not substantial or there is a large lag in between posts,
followers of the blog could become disinterested and stop following the blog, making it
meaninless.
“Web 2.0 is an ever-growing array of tools that people use to aggregate and interact with
information in ways that are useful to them (Schrum & Solomon, pg. 23).” Today's student is no
exception, and the education system needs to make big changes to its framework to allow for
students to participate in their learning career as they do on the Internet. Web-based word
processors and blogs are just two tools out of hundreds that can be incorporated into any
classroom and any curriculum. Until classrooms are turned into virtual rooms, teachers need to
continue to actively engage the new technologies and use them to educate the 21st century
student.
5

Running Head: Comparison Paper – Web-based Word Processor and the Blog
Bibliography
Blood, R. (2000, September 7). Rebecca Blood: Weblogs: A History And Perspective. what's in
rebecca's pocket?. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from
http://www.rebeccablood.net/essays/weblog_history.html
Genre. (n.d.). Blog - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Main Page - Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog
Schrum, L., & Solomon, G. (2007). Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools. NY: Intl Society For
Technology In.
Word processor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Main Page - Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_processor
Bibliography for Video
Royalty-Free Stationary Stock Clipart & Cartoons | Page 3. (n.d.). Royalty-free Historical Stock
Photography, 242, Clipart, 3d Illustrations, Vector Graphics, Posters & Art Prints.
Retrieved April 16, 2010, from http://www.imageenvision.com/cliparts/stationary-pg3
Wipp, N. (n.d.). Michigan Attorney Blog: Small Business Resource Update. Michigan Attorney,
Small Business Lawyer . Retrieved April 16, 2010, from
http://www.wipplaw.com/michigan-attorney-blog.html
6