Choose a tool to create your Gated* Blog
(* TeachersFirst’s term for blogging tools that allow teachers to control access and student use for safety reasons.)
As of early 2012, these web-based tools were free for teachers and/or students. Many offer both free and premium versions, but we are offering information on the free versions. Roll over each tool at the left for a brief review and/or click for a chart of the full tool details.
or
Skip this step right now and read the rest of the step-by-step so I know what I am getting into.
Choose a tool to create your Gated* Blog
(* TeachersFirst’s term for blogging tools that allow teachers to control access and student use for safety reasons.)
As of early, 2012, these web-based tools were free for teachers and/or students. Many offer both free and premium versions, but we are offering information on the free versions. Roll over each tool at the left for a brief review and/or click for a chart of the full tool details.
or
Skip this step right now and read the rest of the step-by-step so I know what I am getting into.
21Classes
21Classes offers a two layer system of free blogs: a teacher/class portal blog and/or up to ten student blogs associated with that portal. Creating more than ten individual student blogs costs a subscription fee. Teachers control the admin functions unless they CHOOSE to release some of these to students. There are extensive controls, but the defaults are enough to get you started.
See a full chart of features for 21Classes.
Class Blogmeister
The Landmark Project provides this free space for teachers as part of their mission to “redefine literacy for the 21st Century.” The project is U.S.-based and run by David Warlick. To set up an account, the first person from your school must obtain a passcode. Use the Email David link at the top of the page to request the code, then share it with fellow teachers.
View a sample blog using this tool from a teacher in Arizona and read his comments in the full features chart.
Class blogmeister allows you to make a class blog with sub-blogs for each student, with student names on the side of the page. The tools are generally user-friendly. Overall, a visually cluttered but useful tool. See a full chart of features for Blogmeister.
Edublogs
Edublogs uses WordPress, a very user friendly tool. Edublogs is extremely popular and therefore can be slow to load at certain times of the day.
Individuals start their own free Edublogs. A teacher can set one up for an entire class to use, or students can establish their own (no email required). Since you can have as many blogs as you want, you can create one blog per class for multiple classes you teach.
See a full chart of features for Edublogs.
Class Blogs
A versatile, full-service blog tool built on WordPress software and better suited for secondary students and/or teachers who want full blog options. There are some handy extras available, like a grade book. Unlike Edublogs, Class Blogs seems to load briskly during busy school days, perhaps because they are not as well known(?)
See a full chart of features for Class Blogs
Blogger
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. Not specifically designed or adapted for educational use. Best for classes/students who already have Google accounts, such as for Google Docs. A major drawback is the “next blog” button, This feature has caused many schools to block Blogger entirely.
The Google Educators forum offers some ideas for using gmail and Blogger with students.
See a full chart of features for Blogger.
Weebly
This visually attractive, flexible tool works well for upper elementary to high school. It has enough teacher controls for most teachers. The limited number of students for free accounts (40) is the biggest drawback. The tool allows full integration of the media that today's students want to use. These features may require some specific class policies and consequences, but students will learn web etiquette and safety using these authentic tools. TeachersFirst made a quick sample of one way you could set up your class site, a teacher blog, and links to your students' blogs. See it here.
See a full chart of features for Weebly
