Kidblog+Basics


 * ==[[image:kidblog_logo.jpg width="241" height="243" align="right"]]What is a Blog?==
 * A web based journal
 * ==Why should Blogs be used in instruction?==
 * "Every K-12 classroom should have a classroom blog to interactively share student work. Classroom blogs offer a virtual space for teachers as well as students to provide 'windows' into the learning which is taking place in the classroom, and are ideal for sharing photos, brief summaries, links, and other updates related to classroom activities." Wes Fryer -- [|Moving at the Speed of Creativity]
 * ==Why [|Kidblog]?==
 * Kidblog is a safe and secure blogging environment developed by teachers for educational use.
 * The simple user interface makes it an excellent choice for elementary and middle school blogging projects.
 * ==Using Kidblog==
 * ===[[image:Why_kidblog.jpg align="right"]]Benefits===
 * Kidblog is a free, safe, and secure blogging environment developed by teachers for educational use.
 * No ads on student blog site.
 * The teacher dashboard gives teachers access to all student blogs registered under his or her name making Kidblog safe to utilize with even the youngest students.
 * The dashboard gives teachers complete control to monitor and approve or reject any publishing activity on any student's blog page.
 * Student blogs are private by default (viewable by the teacher and class members only), but may at the teacher's discretion be made semi-private, requiring a quest password to view, or public to the world.
 * Students are able to read and comment upon their classmate's blogs.
 * Outside source comments may be blocked through the teacher dashboard and the site does not collect any personal information about students or teachers.
 * Kidblog uses a simple log-in menu that negates the need for individual user names. Students need only to remember their passwords.
 * The simple design focuses student attention on publishing rather than design and the blog directory makes it easy for students to find their classmates' blogs.
 * Students can "tag" posts learning tagging protocols which make searching for a particular post much easier.
 * Easy Media Embedding: Simply paste the link to a supported provider (e.g. Vimeo, Youtube, etc.) and the embed code is generated automatically!
 * Native iPad and iPhone Publishing. Simply download the WordPress App.
 * In addition to giving students the opportunity to write for an audience, the blog format allows student's to increase their online social skills and discussion etiquette.
 * ===Challenges===
 * Since Kidblog does not require student email addresses, in fact does not accept them, students cannot retrieve their password if it is forgotten. They must ask the instructor to reset their password.
 * ===Helpful Hints===
 * As the director of the tech department I create all class blogs at my school under an umbrella blog site. I then create class blogs for each of my teachers.
 * By doing this, students may actually be a member of multiple class blogs without having separate log-ins. For example, students could be enrolled in both Dr. Salemi's class blog and the Media Department blog.
 * In addition, I will not have to recreate user names for students next year. I will simply "enroll" them in another class.