Girls are bloggier than boys!

According to this New York Times article:

Research shows that among the youngest Internet users, the primary creators of Web content (blogs, graphics, photographs, Web sites) are not misfits resembling the Lone Gunmen of “The X Files.” On the contrary, the cyberpioneers of the moment are digitally effusive teenage girls.

The research and studies mentioned in the article suggest that cultural expectations influence girls to be more social and expressive, while boys tend to express themselves in different, less confessional ways.

This apparent gender difference transfers over into the classroom when it comes to encouraging boys to read and write. We know teachers want to engage all students, but if you're looking for something to really capture the interest of the boys, try these fun online tools that spark creativity and maybe even the writing bug.

• BubblePLY. Simply upload a video and add speech bubbles and text to create personalized "bubbles" that can be shared with classmates, friends, and teachers.
• Videos. Students can add "filmmaker" to their credits by writing their own scripts and then recording short videos. And the next step, of course, would be uploading their videos to YouTube, MySpace, or Facebook for instant fame.
• Podcasts. For the camera-shy kids who would rather talk it out than write it out, try podcasting. Here's a great tutorial from Education World.
• Skitch. Students can capture moments on their screens--from images to screenshots to IM chats--and then annotate them. You can imagine the descriptive possibilities here!
• Comic Life. Turn photos into personal comic books! We know the appeal of comics and graphic novels for boys--so why not spice up your next writing assignment by asking students to write a short graphic novel instead of an essay? Adding cool effects like a hand-painted look and then printing out the pages makes these a nice keepsake, too.