Students as the Blogger

A couple things to get out of the way as you encourage students to be bloggers

• Expect fear and mistakes.
• Give them examples, clear guidelines (at least to start), and feedback. All without being too restrictive...
• You need a reader and a system to check the blogs. 
• Web based
• Google Reader
• Blogger Reading List
• Apps
• Pulse
• Reeder
• Newsrack
• FeedDemon
• Protect students. 
• It's about the proces, they need to find an "in", allow them ownership (http://wwwh2011-12.blogspot.com/2011/12/blogosphere.html).
• Be amazed.

Blogger as a Notebook

• safe place to keep notes
• turn in assignments
• summary class, notes, and homework

Examples:

Student blogs as safe place to collect notes.

http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-i-want-students-to-blog.html and http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/2010/06/more-on-why-i-want-students-to-blog.html

Student blogs as a class summary and homework reminder.

http://smithewl1213.blogspot.com/
http://www.hcchrisp.blogspot.com/2011/02/test.html
http://leclaire2english.blogspot.com/2009/04/gatsby-fishbowl-chapter-3.html

Blogger as Reflections and/or a Journal

• connections to the content
• connections to the to other classes
• connections to the the outside world

Examples:

Student blog as a reflection on the content, learning and the learning process.

http://blogs.isb.ac.th/haleygrey/



Blogger as Project(s)

• in character writing
• allow for creative/flexible space
• showoff work to the outside world

Examples:

School newspaper.

http://centraltatler.wordpress.com/