This document provides information and instructions for setting up an educational blog using Edublogs.org. It discusses the benefits of blogging for students, including increased engagement, motivation to learn from peers, and alignment with students' online lives. It also notes some potential issues like lost work and lack of parent support. The document then provides step-by-step instructions for signing up for a free Edublogs account and creating a blog, including choosing a username, blog title, privacy settings, and blog address. It highlights features available in free versus Pro accounts and differences between blog posts, pages, links, and settings.

1. Blogging with

2. Blogging..What’s That? An online journal that gives your students a potentially world-wide audience for their writing, art, photography, videos, etc. Blogs in Plain English video

3. Blogging may lead to… Students being involved in academic social practices that align with their “after school” lives and the 21 st century learner Class/Personal blogs allows students to shape their own identities Video, Audio, Art, Texts motivate all students to engage in their learning Students are highly motivated to learn from each other and share ideas

4. Pros and Possible Issues Access at home or school, mobile experiences, time Homework- loss of work, parent support Eco Solutions- less paper used, calendars, newsletters, Who’s on board? Principals and school boards? Shift in thinking can take time for educators or excitement is contagious

5. Setting up your blog Edublogs are completely free, and come with 20MB of free upload space (easily extended to 5 GB as a Edublogs Pro ) To sign up for an Edublogs blog: 1. Go to Edublogs.org 2. Click on the ‘ Free’ or “Pro’ image

6. Setting up your blog 3. This takes you to the Edublogs sign up page where you need to enter your: desired username email address---don’t have to have an email address but will not be able to change password later tick you agree to TOS (terms of Service) click Next . Tips: You will be sent an activation email once your account is created. This email normally arrives within 30 minutes. Use only lowercase letters and numbers, with no spaces, in your username Your username is what you use to sign into your blog dashboard and is displayed on posts and comments you write. You can’t change your username, you can change what name is displayed .

8. WHAT’S YOUR Address (Domain/ URL) 4. On the next page enter your blog domain (i.e. blog URL), blog title, select your preferred privacy and language, enter the Captcha word and click Signup . Tips: Use only lowercase letters and numbers, with no spaces, in your blog URL Blog URLs can’t be changed once created Use a blog URL that reflects what your blog is about and is unique Keep in mind people need to be able to remember and easily type your blog URL into their browser – where possible try to keep your blog URL short but meaningful Don’t stress too much about your blog title as this can be changed any time.

10. Congratulations 5. Next you should see a page with your blog title and instructions to check your email inbox. This email should arrive within 30 minutes. 6. Click on the link in the email to activate your account.

11. The differences in Accounts http:// edublogs.org /guide/

12. Dashboard Posts - change regularly, edit, tag categories, title categories Links- insert links, link categories Pages- on your blog all the time, can be edited. Appearance - themes, widgets-games, visual tools Settings - discussion, privacy

13. In Review http://msvusummer2011.edublogs.org