I'm look to help create a blog for my daughter's grade 1/2 class.
We're looking for something simple that the students can use (i.e. templates with some flexibility), probably web hosted (as apposed to an application you have to download) and something that can be password protected so, for privacy, to see the blog you would have to enter a username and password.
any ideas? any other teachers out there have experience setting up a blog for a class?
thx
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No, seriously, after this post I'm going outside...
I think the more appropriate question would be why would someone in Grade 1 and 2 be interested in a blog?
I'll quote my collegues's email:
"I think there are a variety of interesting concepts for the kids to learn, but for me, privacy is perhaps the most important place to start. The sooner kids learn the pros & cons of the social web, the better, and keeping the blog private would likely be more acceptable to many parents too."
As well, strong links to literacy, technology, media, project management, etc.
Just some of our thoughts as parents, teachers and advisers. You asked about why someone [i.e. the students] would be interested, so I'll ask my daughter when she gets home from school
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No, seriously, after this post I'm going outside...
I'm look to help create a blog for my daughter's grade 1/2 class.
We're looking for something simple that the students can use (i.e. templates with some flexibility), probably web hosted (as apposed to an application you have to download) and something that can be password protected so, for privacy, to see the blog you would have to enter a username and password.
any ideas? any other teachers out there have experience setting up a blog for a class?
thx
Would they be posting their comments directly, or would the thoughts be scribed? I am saying this in that if a grade one or two student uses inventive spelling, some parents might not understand the importance of this aspect of the developmental writing process.
I am a university professor, and literacy is my area of expertise. I think that this is a great idea to give students an authentic way of expressing themselves in a relevant manner.
Bon chance, mon ami.
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hdh607, I would be interested in your daughter's reply. Remember what kids say and actually do are often two different things. I, too, am an educator and have often thought of setting up web sites for my learners [ literacy and language learners who are adults ]. Most kids of that age would view the web as a source of entertainment. So your site would have to have a significant component to it.
I agree with the need to educate them on the concepts of social networks and privacy ... not sure if Grade 1 and 2 are the ages where they can fully grasp the concepts. Parental control and placing the computer in a much viewed area of the house, like the family room or living room where parents can see what the kids are looking at will do just as good a job. So maybe a component would be to educate the parents as well. Good luck and I would be interested in seeing the work in process.
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Would they be posting their comments directly, or would the thoughts be scribed? I am saying this in that if a grade one or two student uses inventive spelling, some parents might not understand the importance of this aspect of the developmental writing process.
I am a university professor, and literacy is my area of expertise. I think that this is a great idea to give students an authentic way of expressing themselves in a relevant manner.
Bon chance, mon ami.
That's a good point Dr.G.
The students do use a lot of inventive and creative ways to spell and express themselves (like using" ~" when they're not sure what to write - e.g. invent~ spelling) Most parents in the class know this, but in all likelyhood, extended family and friends will be reading it who would benefit from a brief explanation at the top regarding inventive spelling. Or maybe the teacher is going to choose another approach, I'll have to check. Thanks for the input!
__________________
No, seriously, after this post I'm going outside...
The students do use a lot of inventive and creative ways to spell and express themselves (like using" ~" when they're not sure what to write - e.g. invent~ spelling) Most parents in the class know this, but in all likelyhood, extended family and friends will be reading it who would benefit from a brief explanation at the top regarding inventive spelling. Or maybe the teacher is going to choose another approach, I'll have to check. Thanks for the input!
Is there going to be any censorship of comments? I could write that "Marc is a dope and we should hit him". Would that be uploaded without any comment?
__________________
Dr.G.
14" G4 iBook
15" MacBook Pro (July, 2009)
13" MacBooK Pro with Retina Display
Paix
"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read these books." Mark Twain
Have a look at Wordpress.com. It's free and should do everything you need it to, including locking down the content for members only, or locking down on a post by post basis. I have been working with it since its inception and can't recommend it highly enough.
If you decide to set up more of a network and give each student their own blog, have a look at NIng. A bit more of a learning curve to that one.
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