Using+Kidblog


 * ==Helpful Hints for School's Implementing the Use of [|Kidblog]==
 * As the technology integration specialist at our school, I set up all classroom accounts in the school.
 * This ensures that all teachers are using the same basic applications. Teachers may request others, but all apps requiring student interaction must be run by me first.
 * This practice also allows for continuity between years negating the necessity of re-entering students each year. I am able to simply reassign students to a new Kidblog class.
 * Safety and Security
 * Even though Kidblog can be made very private, __never__ use your students full names when creating student accounts.
 * When introducing Kidblog, we place maximum restrictions on student accounts.
 * All posts and comments are set to moderation and teacher approval.
 * We allow parents "Guest" privileges on our classroom blogs which allows parents to visit the classroom blog space, however, we limit parents to a "read only" status. If parents have a concern or comment about anything they see or read on our class blogs, we ask that they email either the classroom teacher or the tech integration specialist.
 * ==A Quick Video Tutorial==

media type="youtube" key="UKhMeHcCG_8" height="315" width="560" align="center"

Note that this video demonstrates a slightly older version of Kidblog and some new features have been added.
 * ==Key Steps to Implementing Kidblog in the Classroom==
 * Set up a Kidblog account. If your school is planing to use Kidblog across grade levels, work with your tech specialist to create an umbrella blog account for the school.
 * For example: I set up a school tech blog account using the very simple [|Kidblog account creation] page. I then created Kidblog Classes for each class that wanted a blogging environment. Notice that old classes may be archived so that posts and comments may not be added or edited, but they are still available for students to access for portfolio purposes, etc.
 * Set privacy, safety, and security parameters for your class blog. I set these for my teachers as all classes start out with complete moderation of posts and comments. As we are an elementary school, we also require that all class blogs be set to private.
 * Make sure that you click on each button under the settings tab to set conditions for the site in general, posting, commenting, and user permissions.
 * We only allow class members to post or comment. Parents have guest "read only" privileges.
 * Upload student user names and passwords using a spreadsheet file save as .csv file. I keep a master copy of all student usernames and passwords on Google Docs. This document is shared only with faculty members.
 * Note the unique Kidblog URL for you class blog. Copy this URL to your class website to create a class log-in page where students can simply locate their user name in a list and input their unique passwords.
 * Get Blogging
 * Create a Welcome Post for your class. Have another teacher comment on the post to show students how a blog allows for a "conversation" to take place.
 * Before allowing students to create their own blog posts, teach them basic blogging rules and etiquette.
 * Establish the consequences for not following blogging rules.
 * Our rules look something like this:
 * Think before you post. We spend some time talking about appropriate content for a blog post.
 * Think B4 U Post Rules Version 1
 * Think Before You Post Rules Version 2
 * Treat this blog as you would any submitted writing assignment.
 * Always proofread your post for spelling errors, grammar errors, and sentence structure.
 * No Text Speak Allowed! We are practicing our writing skills!
 * Post only educationally appropriate writing. This is not a chat room or an instant message session.
 * Save casual conversation for those mediums, only post school or class relevant conversation to the blog.
 * Never be disrespectful of people, organizations, or ideas in your blog.
 * Remember that your entire class, other people in our school, and your parents may read your blog.
 * What you say in your blog or in your comments reflects upon you.
 * Commenting on a Blog is a special type of writing. We discuss how to write constructive comments whether we agree or disagree with the original post. I focus on different techniques depending on the age of the student. For the fifth graders, we discussed most of the following techniques at one time or another throughout the year.
 * Paraphrase the original post. Put in your own words what a poster has said so that he or she feels understood and so that the other participants can read a concise summary of the post from your point of view.
 * Check for Meaning. Sometimes our interpretation of a writer's post is not exactly what the poster meant. Check for understanding of a post or ask the poster to clarify what he or she meant in their post.
 * Give Positive Feedback. Recognize an interesting or insightful comment even if you disagree with it. We all like to be recognized.
 * Elaborate. Add on to a previous poster's comments by giving examples from the text, connecting the text with something in the real world or another text, sharing some background knowledge, suggesting a new way to view the character or problem, etc. This gives the previous poster credit for their ideas, but allows others to add to the conversation.
 * Consolidate. Find the Common Ground. Pull together ideas, showing their relationship to each other. When several people are passionate about their positions, they sometimes don't realize that they may be saying the same thing, just in different ways, or that their ideas are related to each other.
 * Summarize. Keep it on topic. Sometimes when discussions drift off topic. By summarizing the major views of the group, you narrow the focus back to the topic.