Edublogs

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Blogs in General
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 * Definition -**
 * A blog is a form of web journaling and is a shortened term for web log.
 * Entries appear as posts in reverse chronological order
 * Comments are an important function of blogging


 * Use in Education -**
 * Posting assignments
 * Communicating with students and parents
 * Storing information
 * Sharing expertise
 * Reading and Writing
 * Commenting
 * Interactive lessons

The Edublogs Home Page

 * Create A Blog
 * Review Features of Home Page

Dashboard

 * Edublogs Supporter
 * Review of Dashboard Features

Dashboard Settings
- Differences between static pages and posts - More on Commenting
 * Writing Features
 * Reading Features
 * Discussion - Commenting
 * Media: Dealing with Images
 * Privacy - Feature limited to supporters only
 * Delete Blog - Allows users to delete blogs
 * FeedBurner - Feature limited to supporters only (Keeps track of traffic)
 * Avatar - Image associated with blog

Appearance
- Preview themes to see how they look before selecting - Different templates emphasize different widgets
 * Themes - Think about users as you select themes
 * Widgets

Visit Your Blog Site

 * Check to see appearance is suitable
 * Become familiar with layout of blog
 * Site Administration

Additional Dashboard Settings
- Privatizing blogs: Pros and Cons - Profile - Avatar - Different places to do the same thing - Blog and User Creator - Feature limited to supporter - Place to create blogs for students) GMail Hack
 * Pages Add an "About" Static Page
 * Posts - Edit, New
 * Categories
 * Users

Create A Blog

 * Use the above to work your way through creating your first blog.
 * Need additional support? Visit - Edublogs Support

For those of you who want a guided tutorial of edublogs, visit 21 Things - Edublogs

Professional Development on Blogging with Students
The following is taken from Silvia Tolisano's Langwitches Blog. For further detail, please refer to this wonderful resource. So follow along, as I am exploring and reflecting on each one of these of topics as we are planning for lessons and reflecting upon outcomes. Any contribution of links to resources, examples or anecdotes of your adventures in blogging with younger students are greatly appreciated. Check out the following links for more resources about blogging with students (Thanks to Larry’s post on [|Best Sources for Advice on Student Blogging] for pointing me into the direction, that kept leading to more and more resources) :
 * Introduce students (3rd grade and up) to the world of academic blogging.
 * [|Outline of unit lesson plan]
 * [|Introduction]
 * [|Online Safety]
 * [|Effective Commenting]
 * [|Relevant Writing]
 * [|Setting up a blog]
 * [|Logistics of formatting blog posts]
 * Difference between hypertext and “traditional” writing and reading
 * How to create a learning community on your classroom blog
 * Connecting to a world wide audience
 * Assessment and evaluation of student blogging
 * Sue Waters’ [|Tips on Blogging with Students]
 * Bil Ferriter’s [|Two Critical Tips For Classroom Blog Projects]
 * Kim Cofino’s [|Blogging is Elementary]
 * Al Upton’s [|Class blogs – management, moderation and protection]

Classroom Blog Examples
Learning and Laptops (High School LA) Mme Forrest's Grade 3 (Some are in French, some in English) Ms. Deyenber's Grade 5 (Contains links to other teacher blogs Room 227 - Grade 5 Humanities Grade 6 Teacher Blog (Students at this school have one blog for all subjects.) Humanities Grade 7 Teacher Blog (Includes links to student blogs.) My Tech Site Grade 6 My 8th Grade Science Blog with student blogs