Encouraging Teachers to use Class Blogs in the Classroom.

 How to sell the value and easy use of class blogging across all levels of the school. 

Most teachers can see the need for class blogging but find it difficult to find time and implement blogging into their exisiting class programes a hurdle to somewhat hard to overcome.

It is merely a shift in thinking and before you relise it the hurdles will have be passed and students will use blogging successfully and effortlessly within daily programmes.

Setting up the blog page easy with support from a previous blogger.

Learning how to embed new tools a slight challenge but once practised a few times, very manageable!

Maintaining the momentum of posts and links to programmes a little more difficult but with some planning and specific teaching and learning contexts it will become apart of your daily planning routines.

Creating an audience and regular input of comments from a wider audience may prove very difficult.  However applying some of the following ideas will be helpful

Steps I have taken to help lead the blogging journey...

1.  Whole Staff Teaching team create an account and design a blog page to meet their purpose e.g. Deputy Principals, Library, Junior / Senior school, nump / lit leaders page

2.  Offer Techie support for blogging at least 2 per term.  Introduce basics gadgets, embeding, widgets.  Practice is essential before returning to next session.  Next session staff share their questions / wants / needs.  Introduce the use of slideshows e.g. photopeach, glitter text for some sparkle - personalise to individual needs.

REFLECTION...
After a staff feedback session it was obvious that the main hurdles were...
time to organise or use the blog 
how to use in daily programmes
finding a reliable audience make comments and give feedback

NEXT STEP...
I had recently been introduced to quad blogging (four classes - each week one class is the focus class and the other three classes view and leave comments for the focus class) Every class gets an opportunity to participate as the focus class and viewers.  Within the school we will approach quad blogging as above but across the school involving junior, middle and senior classrooms.

Teach students how to make comments...




Blogging for the very Young - check this link out...

http://primarytech.global2.vic.edu.au/2011/07/19/blogging-with-very-young-students/