Make the choices about your community
Once you have decided on the tool you wish to use, set up your account and make the settings within that tool align with your choices about who can come through the gates and what they can do. Roll over each choice to see the details.
Make the choices about your community
Once you have decided on the tool you wish to use, set up your account and make the settings within that tool align with your choices about who can come through the gates and what they can do. Roll over each choice to see the details.
Who may read the blog?
(Do you require a password to see any part of the blog?)
If so, find the setting to put a password on the entire blog. Make sure you change the password periodically or when you believe it may have been compromised. Don’t leave the password on a sticky note attached to your classroom monitor!
Who may comment on the blog?
If you intend that only registered users are allowed to leave comments, make sure the settings are configured that way. Most teachers require comments to be moderated (approved) by the teacher to start and later allow student comments to show without moderation. Some tools have a setting that allows comments by those whose have previous comments have been "approved." Outside (public) comments should always be moderated. Note: You also have options for who is allowed to register.
Who may register?
If you pre-register your students or have them register in class in front of you (they do not click Submit until you check their screen), you have complete control over this process. Parents can email you and ask to be included or sign up at the blog for you to "approve" their registration. Be sure to verify email addresses! You should maintain a database (or a pencil/paper list!) of who the registered users are and which usernames match which actual people. TeachersFirst does not recommend using student names. Allow your students to choose a pseudonym or use three initials. Even first names can be unique enough for lurker determined to figure out who they are. See our idea for a Blog Ice Breaker for secondary students on the More Ideas page.
Who may post?
There are specific settings for each blog. Sometimes the easiest way to understand the options is to pretend you are a new user (use your dog or cat's name) and test them. This will make it easier for you to explain to students what to expect. Since each blogging tool is different, we cannot give you complete instructions here. Some class blog sites actually set up mini-blogs for each student within the class blog (Class Blogmeister, for example). Others have different roles, such as administrator of the blog (teacher) and "contributors" whose posts must be approved by the "administrator." Role differentiation make it possible for students to "earn" higher level roles by demonstrating responsible behavior in their posts and comments. Use the blog as a way to teach ethical online behavior and anti-bullying lessons.
Who can tell who wrote the blog?
If your blog is visible to the public (which can be great for getting authentic comments from the real world) you do not want "lurkers" (strangers in cyber-badland) to be able to stalk you or your students. Use nothing but initials or pseudonyms for student names; do NOT post identifiable pictures; and make it a rule to avoid naming places that would allow someone to figure out where your school is or who you are.
Using "Mr. Mylastname's class blog" or some other generic title like "Fourth Grade Musings" is safest, as long as you do not start adding information that would help find your school or call asking to leave a message for a student. Therefore, posting information or a map of the meeting place for your class pizza dinner, RSVP phone numbers, or similar information is simply unwise. As you write your teacher "profile" on the blogging tool, keep it generic or at least check to see where this information is visible to the public. Include a rule about this in your blogger agreement, and talk about why so students can carry safe practices into their own online lives.