Blogging

Getting Your School Started with Blogging
// Resources to share - click here: // [|Google doc]

media type="custom" key="22172672"

1) What is a blog? Why blog? Who should blog?


 * Blog definition
 * Blogs in plain English []
 * Why blog?
 * Develop communication skills
 * Great platform for reflection
 * Communication tool - two-way communication encouraged
 * Writing shared with an authentic audience- students want to put their best work out there
 * Digital citizenship and digital footprint building -they are in control
 * Collaborative opportunities and Global connections
 * Who should blog?
 * Students!
 * Teachers!
 * Administrators!
 * Parents!
 * Types of blogs
 * Classroom blogs
 * School blogs
 * Student blogs

2) Platforms to use


 * [|Kidblog] - free accounts for classrooms and kids; easy to use; many protective features in place; embedding options
 * [|Edublogs] - free accounts for teachers and students; easy to get started with use; excellent customer support; designed for education use only, so no exposure to other blogs with adult content - [|see comparisons here]
 * [|Wordpress] - highly customizable and feature-rich; a learning curve to get started
 * [|Blogger] - integrated with Google Apps; easy to use, many templates available; some districts block this platform due to possible exposure to other non-educational blogs

3) Setting the stage/getting started


 * Determine the purpose for your blog - what are some various ways of using blogs in the classroom/school? [|Check out the results from Sue Waters’s survey on educational blogging] (2012)
 * Silvia Tolisano Resources here [] -Scroll down to RH side menu stepping it up: Learning about Blogs for your students
 * [] -- all of the sections listed here
 * Her blogging unit plan is also on the RH side menu - an excellent resource!
 * Student introduction
 * Purpose, methods, tie to the learning - [|Great commenting tips with student video] from Mrs. Yollis’s class
 * Teacher modeling is important! Skills must be taught and practiced! Consider [| paper blogging] as an introduction.
 * Parent education - one idea is to host a [|Family Blog Night]
 * Sue Waters is another go-to resource for all things blogging; Here are some resources to help teachers get started- challenge yourself! []

4) Administration - Points to Consider


 * Accounts and passwords - who will create and manage accounts? What levels of access and permissions will teachers and students have?
 * Student blogging guidelines/district policies - ours developed from this list [] and [|other examples here]
 * Sharing permissions - will readers need to sign in to read posts? Comment?
 * Approval processes for posts and comments - do posts go through the teacher for approval before going “live?” Comments? Will students moderate? Teachers? Both?
 * Tip: Set up and use a Google Reader/other RSS reader feed to keep track of the feeds coming in so you can devote some time to commenting and sharing student work!

5) Blog Uses/Examples


 * Student reflective writing and portfolio development
 * [|http://biancasblog.global2.vic.edu.au]
 * [|http://jadensawesomeblog.blogspot.com]
 * [|http://victoria-miriamsmoments.blogspot.com]
 * []
 * __http://huzzah.edublogs.org__
 * Home-School Communication (from classroom)
 * [|http://yollisclassblog.blogspot.com]
 * []
 * []
 * [|http://4kmand4kj.global2.vic.edu.au]
 * [|http://bdonofrio.edublogs.org]
 * [|http://mistea.edublogs.org]
 * Home-school communication (building-wide from principal/office)
 * []
 * [|http://www.markjsullivan.org]
 * [|http://esheninger.blogspot.com]
 * Personal reflection
 * Pernille Ripp - [|Blogging Through the Fourth Dimension]
 * [|http://lynhilt.com]
 * Principal-staff communication [|http://brecknockhappenings.blogspot.com]
 * [|Moving to a staff blog post] from principal Scott Elias
 * Organization for staff PD [|http://elancoetc.blogspot.com]
 * Other examples: [| Edublog awards list 2012]

6) Additional Resources

// General Guides/Getting Started //
 * [|Blogging with Elementary School Students] from Sue Waters
 * [|Using blogs with students] -resources from Sue Waters - [|all of the resources she shared in her PD sessions here]
 * [|Ten activities to help you set up your blog/get started] from Sue Waters
 * [|Blogging in the classroom]
 * [|Ideas for classroom blogs]
 * [|Blogs/getting started resources] shared with my teachers
 * [|Learning to blog using paper]
 * [|PhotoPin] and [|Compfight] - free photos for bloggers
 * [|5 steps to starting a class blog in 2012]
 * Educational blogging

// Rationale/benefits of blogging //
 * [|Getting more out of student blogging] - Sue Waters
 * [|How blogging can improve student writing]
 * [|Six reasons why kids should know how to blog]
 * [|Making time for reflection - lower elementary students]
 * [|Write to learn: how blogging can inspire] - links to many additional resources here
 * [|The Influence of Classroom Blogging on Elementary Student Writing] Ewa McGrail and Anne Davis

// Sample Blogging Guidelines //
 * [|Sample blogging guidelines]
 * [|Think before you post online]
 * [|Tips and topics for student bloggers]

// Commenting //
 * [|Blogging commenting rubric] from Silvia Tolisano
 * [|Example commenting guidelines]
 * [|Preparing students for commenting with wall blogging] from Silvia Tolisano

// Connecting with other classrooms //
 * Global classroom wiki
 * [|Comments 4 kids]
 * [|My Kidblog settings for ultimate global collaboration] by Pernille Ripp

// For teachers/admin //
 * [|Creating a Wordpress website- a tutorial]
 * [|How do I go about blogging?]
 * [|Top 10 don’ts for wannabe teacher bloggers]
 * List of blogging resources for administrators
 * [|Teacher checklist for blogging from Solution Tree]
 * [|Setting up blogging buddies with Kidblog, Excel, and a Google spreadsheet] from Wes Fryer
 * [|Student Blogging Resources from Pernille Ripp]