Blogging with students

Last year I created a class blog through edublogs for my students to use in our school computer lab. Creating one blog for my class seemed easier for them to use since they are younger. My students had just finished creating book review podcast in their technology class. So I decided to have each student write a review of a different book from our class library on our class blog. I wanted the students to share their favorite book they've read in hopes of encouraging other students in the class to read it.

Here is my second grade class blog http://jacklyn7.edublogs.org/

The students really enjoyed participating and reading each others responses. It was a great way for them to learn about new books in our classroom library. With second graders it does take some time to introduce and explain the process of adding a comment. I was able to use the LCD projector to walk the students step by step. Second graders also need time and some help with typing. I personally think it may be difficult to have Kindergartners or First graders blogging without additional teacher support.

Benefits to Blogging:

• motivating to students, especially those who otherwise might not become participants in classrooms

• excellent opportunities for students to read and write.
  

• effective forums for collaboration and discussion.

Blogging Do's:

• Get parental permission.
• Know your school and district acceptable use policies (AUPs) and convey them to your students.
• Avoid blogging sites that require students to publish their complete names and/or e-mail accounts.
• Avoid sites that ask students for any personal information.
• Make students aware of what subject matter is appropriate and permissible.
• Teach students the importance of tone and respect for others' opinions.
• Have clear expectations, rules, and consequences.

Resources:
33 Ways to Use a Blog in Your Classroom
How to Use Blogs in the Classroom
Classroom Blogs and Wikis

Please feel free to add any other additional uses for blogging in education.

Blogging

A blog features diary-type commentary and links to articles on other Web sites, usually presented as a list of entries in reverse chronological order. It also provides people the opportunity to leave comments. Creating a blog is easy and does not take a lot of time. Blogger.com provides step by step directions. Once you have set up a blog, it is fast and easy to update. Take some time to go through the settings. There are several options available to monitor post/comments.

Why Blog?

• Post Resources
• Share Lessons
• Online Discussion
• Get Feedback
• Newsletters
• Share Multimedia

In education, blogs can be used...

• with your students
• with other teachers in or outside of your school
• with your students to communicate with other students outside of your school
  

Here is a short video explaining what a blog is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI

Creating a blog:
http://edublogs.org/
http://blogger.com/

This year I plan to continue to use http://edublogs.org/ with my students. My next post will include the blog I used with my second grade students last year and my experience using it.

Web 2.0

This blog will be used to share web 2.0 technologies and its educational uses.