Blogging in the Classroom

Paul Alex Briseno

Objectives

Discuss Blogs and Blogging How to Add a Blog How to Password Protect your Blog How to Edit a Blog How to Authorize Comments How to Delete Comments from a

Blog How to Delete a Blog

What is a Blog?

Definition of a BlogBlogs in Plain English [video]

A blog is a conversational tool. Blogs consist of text and can include

images.   Blogs can be public, protected, or

private

Blogs in the Classroom

A blogger (teacher or student) posts an article or journal entry and invites others to comment and expand the discussion.

Blogs allow students the opportunity to receive feedback from their peers and prompt reflection.

Your students can create blogs to discuss what they are learning and invite others to share their viewpoints and to contribute new ideas.

Steps to Implement a Blog Model sample blog articles by inviting students

to read a blog article and leave a comment. Pose questions based on class discussions on a

topic in the class blog, and invite students to provide their answers by leaving comments in the blog.

Students publish rough drafts to the class blog and invite readers to provide constructive feedback.

Students pose questions to others through the class blog to create virtual discussions and collaboration.

Steps to Implement a Blog Assign one blog entry per week on a

class-related topic; keep required lengths short and emphasize reflection.

Grade students on their blog entries; evaluate such factors as time management, content, and grammar and spelling.

Allow students to explore different ways to use blogs to suit their needs.

Blogging Rules for the Classroom

Do not use last names Do not link to your personal blog If you want to write your opinion on a

topic, make sure you're not going to be offensive to anyone as you write it.

Always make sure you check over your post for spelling errors, grammar errors, and your use of words.

Blogging Rules for the Classroom

Never disrespect someone else in your blog, whether it's a person, an organization, or just a general idea.

Make sure things you write about are factual.

Watch your language! We're not at home, we are at school!

Stay on topic and keep it education-oriented.

Blogging Do’s

Know your school and district acceptable use policies (AUPs) and convey them to your students.

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.

Blogging Dont’s

Don’t use blogging sites that require students to publish their complete names and/or e-mail accounts.

Don’t Use sites that ask students for any personal information.

Blogging with SchoolWorld

Log in to SchoolWorld www.southsanisd.net/staff

Blogging with SchoolWorld Click on the My

Applications tab Locate the My

BLOG section Click on Maintain

BLOG

Adding a Blog

Click on the Add New Blog link.

Adding a Blog

Add Blog & First Post Enter in the Overall

Blog Title and Posting Title.

Enter in your first thought, question or posting in the text area.

Adding a Blog

Overall Options To password protect the Blog on the

public site, enter in a password (optional).

Enter in a description of the Blog (optional).

Adding a Blog

Comment Options Allow Comments - Select 'Yes' if you would like to

allow people or students to comment on your Blog postings or 'No' if you do not.

Automatically Authorize - To automatically authorize comments, select 'Yes'. If you select 'No' to not automatically authorize comments, you would have to approve them first before they're posted.

Comment Options

Comment Options Show Comments - To display the posted comments,

select 'Yes' or 'No' to not show comments. Show User Email - Select 'Yes' to display the email

address of the posted comment. If you do not want email addresses displayed of those who posted a comment on the front end, then select No.

Adding a Blog

Once you have set all options Hit Next. Enter in a Posting Title. You must add

at least one posting in order for people to be able to post comments to your Blog.

Hit Save.

Adding an Image to a BlogAdd an Image (1st way) To add an image to

your blog, click  on Maintain Blogs

Then on the link under the Posts column.

Click on the edit link next to the posting, then on the Images tab.

Click Browse, select your image, hit Save.

Adding an Image to a BlogAdd an Image (2nd way) To add an image to

your blog, click  on Maintain Blogs

Then on the link under the Posts column.

Click on the edit link next to the posting, then on the Insert Image From Gallery tab.

Adding an Image to a Blog Select image from

your PC or Icons gallery

Click on Save.

Editing a Blog

To Edit a Post Click on Maintain

Blogs. Select the number to

the right of the post that you would like to edit.

Select Edit. To Add a Post

Click on the Add Post link when editing a Blog.

Enter in the posting title and description

Editing a Blog

Make your updates Hit Save.

Sorting your Blog

Click on Maintain Blogs.

Click on Sort Blogs.

Change the Blog sort order.

Hit Save.

Authorizing Comments

When a comment needs to be authorized, you will see a link for the number of comments needing authorization once you click on Maintain Blogs.

Authorizing Comments

To authorize a comment, click on the authorize comments link or the edit link

Authorizing Comments

Select the checkbox under the Authorized column.

Hit Save. Once authorized, the comment will appear on the public site.

Deleting Comments in a Blog

Click on Maintain Blogs. Click on the number link under the

Posts column. Click on the number of comments

link (For example, 4 comments). Please note: if it says 0

comments, then click on the edit link instead and make your updates.

Deleting Comments in a Blog

If the comment you wish to delete is displayed, click on the edit comments link, then Check Here to Delete This Comment. Hit OK.

If you do not see the comment you wish to delete displayed, click on the Show All link. Click on edit comments, then Check Here to Delete This Comment. Hit OK.

Deleting a Blog

Click on Maintain Blogs.

Click on the hyperlink of the Blog you wish to edit.

Click on the Click to Delete this Blog! link in the lower left corner.

Hit OK. All postings and

comments pertaining to the Blog will also be deleted.

Subscribe to your Blog

Students, parents and visitors can subscribe to a Blog via RSS. On the front end of your classroom site, visitors can click on the RSS icon to subscribe.

Subscribe to your Blog

If you wish to use your browser as the RSS reader, click on Subscribe to this feed link

Then click on the Subscribe button

Resources

What is a Blog? (PBS.org)▪ http://www.pbs.org/teachers/learning.now/200

6/05/what_exactly_is_a_blog_anyway.html

What is Educational Blogging?▪ http://supportblogging.com/Educational+Blog

ging

What is RSS?▪ http://www.edublogs.tv/play.php?vid=216