General profile: The Google Educators forum offers some ideas for using gmail and Blogger with students, including how to get rid of the "next blog" button (not for beginners). The user side is VERY easy, with a new user interface in early 2012. The start-up of a blog using Blogger is VERY simple. It uses the same account as other Google tools, such as Google Docs. The ability to choose your own URL (if available) is a help for forgetful students. Overall: A simple-to-use tool for those who do NOT need the full security of a fully-gated blog and may want the integration of Google’s other tools. Best for classes/students who already have Google accounts, such as for Google Docs. |
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| Features available: | Yes/no | What they call it, and how to find it |
Reviewer comments |
| Password-protect entire blog | N |
You can limit who “sees”the blog to those you specifically allow, but the permission will be based on allowing specific people “in” by their Google memberships, not by password. This would require having user accounts for all students on Google, which defeats the purpose of protecting users. | |
| Choices of blog appearance | Y |
Choose a Template | The options are common looks you have seen on the web. |
| Customization of appearance with own graphics | Y |
Create a Custom Design Template | Can be changed at any time. |
| Keywording/tagging | Y |
Labels | Use the tools at the right of the post form to enter labels, separated by commas. |
| Teacher-managed registration options | Not Really |
Register members under Settings> Permissions > Blog authors. Not designed specifically for teachers | Members must have email accounts and will be asked to set up associated Google accounts. Click to add authors (comma-separated list of emails) and an email goes out “inviting” them. |
| Teacher-managed posting options | Y |
Posts only allowed by registered members of the blog. Registration is the only limit they offer. | Only one level of “author” available. You cannot assign differing levels or capabilities to different people, such as parents vs students. |
| Teacher-managed commenting options | Y |
Under Settings>Comments> Who Can Comment? Comment controls can also be specified for each blog post using “Options” at the right. |
To completely control posts/comments, set choice to Members only, then register only your class members if you wish to restrict commenting to your students. You also have the option of “registered users only” for comments, but this does not prevent someone from a becoming registered user on their own. |
| Teacher-approval of posts and comments | Y |
Settings> Comments> Who can Comment See also: Comment Moderation |
Choose Members Only and/or turn on moderation for complete control over what is “published.” |
| Teacher-managed control over what different members can “see” | Y |
Settings>Basic> Blog Readers | Click EDIT to change from “anybody.” To “only blog authors” or “Only these readers” (you specify a list. See above re inviting authors. Add readers here by clicking “add.” If you want your students to be able to WRITE posts, they must be authors on the blog and thus can also comment using the “only blog authors” setting. Remember that any authors or members must have Google accounts. |
| Other capabilities | Y |
Keep blog out of public listings.
Spam controls-- turn on at Settings> Comments> |
Under Settings> Basics> Add your Blog to our listings? Choose NO to limit how many people can “find” it via web searches, but not completely hide it from public view. SPAM filtering is turned on by default. |
| RSS Feeds | Y |
Settings> site feeds | Monitor all posts and comments via an RSS feed to a teacher feed reader such as Google Reader. This will save you time accessing changes and comments on multiple blogs. |
| Help available | Y |
Help appears in pop-up windows, which enable you to read the help and do the tasks as you read. | |
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