Blogging

The word blog is short for Weblog. Written for online audiences, a blog is a journal that is frequently updated and stored on the Internet. The content of a blog can vary considerably, from a running log of events to reflections and personal insights.
 * What is a blog? **

[|Why Let Your Students Blog]

You can post an occasional video on your blog, but if dedicate your blog to video, it will have to go by another name. This type of blog is known as a **Vlog** see section below.

 **Blog Safety Checklist** See the form below to help you effectively manage issues such as safety and copyright.
 * Ways to use Blogs **
 * ** Classroom communication ** provides parents and students with convenient access to important information 24/7.
 * ** Student blogs ** focusing on a particular area of study can be used to reflect on learning and provide oportunities to strengthen writing skills while increasing global awareness.
 * Spotlight on Safety **
 * ** [|Remove the Next Flag] ** from the top of your blog to avoid easy access to random blogs on a wide variety of topics which are certainly not all educational.
 * Set up comments to be monitored and safe.
 * Introduce students to pen names, to protect identities and teach about Internet safety. Use a GoogleDocs Form to quickly collect pen names.
 * Understand copyright

A vlog is a blog that focuses on video, embedded directly in the post. A vlog should have a theme. Here's a how to Vlog on You Tube,  media type="youtube" key="YtvKLtMnH4U?rel=0" height="242" width="294" align="center" If you decide to create a Vlog, there are some things to think about. You really can't share a vlog in the lab with all of your students and expect them to view videos simultaneously while sitting next to each other because that, of course, is network abuse. It is quite a strain on any network, and it will indeed slow things down for everyone. Instead, your vlog should be viewed by visitors at home, or by groups of students gathered around one machine.
 * VLOG**

Now that you have seen an example of a vlog, perhaps you are only interested in displaying a video occasionally on your blog. There are a few ways to do this.
 * 1) If you are using a source like //[|Teacher Tube]//, or //[|YouTube]//, you will find an **embed code** right on the page. Although it looks like gibberish, you can confidently copy the embed code and paste it into a blogger post, if you change the mode in the upper-right hand corner from **Compose** to **Edit HTML**. Don't worry, copying and pasting is easy, and it will work.
 * 2) If you're using //YouTube// video, it's important to remember to deselect the option to **include related videos** underneath the embed code. Sometimes these videos are inappropriate.
 * 3) If you want to conserve space on your blog, a very good option is to "fake it". You can [|take a snapshot] of the video and use the **Picture Gadget** to post it in the sidebar. Copy the link to the video and paste it in the **Picture Gadge**t and your viewers will be taken directly to the website where they can view the video. (See my example in the sidebar.)

** Blog Approval Checklist & Submission Form **


 * Your Name: ** * -


 * Blog Web Address: ** * -

I have removed the "Next Blog" link I understand that I must remove the "Next Blog" link each time I change my template I have set up my blog so that all comments must be monitored My profile contains personal but not private information Information on my profile does not link to outside blogs I have carefully considered the advisability of allowing followers
 * Blog Set-Up: **

I have permission from parents of all students whose pictures and/or work appear on my blog I have discussed online safety with my students and they understand the rules My students have given me pen names they will use when commenting on my blog, if appropriate
 * Student Safety: **

My blog models good writing practices without excessive use of slang My blog makes use of gadgets and structures that allow for easy navigation There are no broken links on my blog I have a legal right to any graphics and documents available on my blog When a document is already available on the web, I link to its original location All links are to educationally relevant sites without excessive advertising I check my blog, including links, regularly I update my blog regularly
 * Good Design Elements: **