- Choose a platform – Decide how much, if any, of the blog should be private. We would want our high school students to feel like they are publishing when they post online. They should be encouraged to make their blog as reader friendly as possible, maybe even attract outside readers. Since there may be comments made by people outside of the classroom the teacher should make sure to check comments on a regular basis.
- Set guidelines for students - Topics used? Do they need approval to write/comment? Is grammar/spelling important? At this level grammar and spelling is very important because we are emphasizing that they are publishing every time they post something.
- Teach your kids – Explain what blogging is and how it works, show them other student blogs, explicitly teach how to contribute quality comments to other blogs.
- Define a purpose for each blog – Create a focus for the student
- Emphasize content over form – Blog must be readable, but should be an informal writing process. Blog can be informal however focus is now on content and form.
- Don’t forget multimedia – Teach how to embed photos, videos, add links. Students at this level should also be referencing their pictures/videos and be mindful of copyright laws.
- Put safety first – Teach the difference between criticism and commentary. Students are responsible for everything that they write.
- Look for inspiration – Read other blogs for inspiration. A focus of this unit should be on finding and reading outside blogs on topics of interest.
Things to consider when setting up blogs for grade 9/10/11/12
1.Student may already have a blog.
2.Students should be consulted on many of their decisions made since they may have relevant experience.
Link to a working blog for a grade 9/10/11/12 student
http://katrinefink.edublogs.org/http://noellakin.blogspot.ca/
http://redfish.edublogs.org/
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