While searching for more information about using technology in the classroom I found myself on the English Companion Ning (well worth checking out) in a forum about using blogs and wikis in the classroom. This in turn led me to do some research about different blogging options. A new one (for me) came up, and that is Edublog. The pros and cons are discussed in this link. I am also linking a blog called:
How Blogging Has Connected me to a Global Audience. By Daniel (11yrs)
If you are not a member of the English Companion Ning you will not automatically be able to read the content, here is a sample:
The basic Edublog is free, but you can upgrade to "pro" for $35 a year I think--that's what I've done for my three sites I host there, and it provides more memory, more design options, and excellent support. However I think it'd be totally fine to use the free version, especially if you don't need to upload a lot of media.
There are no ads--they definitely support teacher's goals.
When you add students you can choose what kind of access they have--I don't have all my students writing this year (I will next fall!), but an after-school class I teach is all student bloggers. They have writing privileges only and I can edit anything they write (and delete). As administrator you also have the ability to edit/approve comments.
My blogs are public but I do believe you can make anything private--the whole thing, parts of it, etc. That's something to explore on the site. The help site with great info is http://theedublogger.com/
My sites if you'd like to see examples are: My Class Blog, a Student Lit Mag, and a Service Learning Website. ( Kristin Bergsagel, Susan B. Anthony Middle School)
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