Free+and+Easy+Blogging

//Discover free blogging tools and learn to use blogging as an effective classroom tool. ~ Michelle Krill//

toc This session will focus on ways to use online blogging conversations to create community and ensure that all students are learning. This session will introduce blogging using free online tools. Participants will gain how-to, as well as why-to, information with regard to using blogs for communication, reflection and assessment.

Blogging
K-W-L 10 Ways to Motivate Students to Blog

What?
Blog is a shortened word for weblog and can be described as an online diary or journal. When describing blogging to teachers and students, I explain blog posts to be the opinions and/or reflections of the writer. Generally, blog posts reference other posts or online resources by linking back. Readers of a blog post are invited to respond by commenting.

Why to?
Blogging permits the author to share his/her point of view with a wide audience. Blogging is writing! When an author writes, the author is forced to think more carefully about the content of the postings. This reflection is often missing in educational activities in the rush to get through material. Explore Blogging & 20 Reasons Students Should Blog
 * Reflect, Write, Tell
 * KWL
 * Exit Slip
 * Journal
 * Learning Logs
 * Reflection Questions
 * The Important Thing
 * ePortfolio

How to?
Locate an online service and set up a blog. See below for some options. An advanced user may prefer to contact a host site to host a blog to have more control over setup and ads.

Examples
Krill Kids Techitu [|Student Examples] Kathy Cassidy



Tool Options
> Kidblog.org is designed for elementary and middle school teachers who want to provide each student with their own, unique blog. Kidblog's simple, yet powerful tools allow students to publish posts and participate in discussions within a secure classroom blogging community. Teachers maintain complete control over student blogs.
 * ====Kidblog====

> Easily create a classroom website & blog, manage your students' accounts, accept homework assignments online, and keep parents up to date.
 * [|Weebly]

> WordPress is a state-of-the-art semantic personal publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability. Wordpress offers free blogs and allows for multiple contributors to a single blog. The [|wordpress blog about classroom blogs].
 * ====[|Wordpress]====

> Edublogs is a blogging service based on Wordpress, that offers free blogs, allows for multiple contributors and even creation of student blogs under a teacher blog. Edublogs offers many themes and is very customizable. Edublogs recently began inserting in-line advertisements in blogs that are not Edublogs Supporters ($25). School Districts can purchase an [|Edublogs Campus] account to allow for greater control and customization.
 * ====[|Edublogs]====

> Create a virtual classroom and BlogPortal. Instant use, hosted, secure.
 * ====21Classes====
 * Host and manage blogs for your students
 * Use a Class Homepage to communicate with students
 * Reviewing capabilities of entries
 * Advanced privacy

Assessment

 * What Makes a Great Blog Post?
 * [|Rubric]
 * [|Reflective Blog Rubric]
 * [|Rubric Maker]

Resources
rss url="http://www.diigo.com/rss/user/Mmkrill/blogging" link="true" description="true" number="10"

CC Licensed Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anniemole/85515856/