So Many Good Ideas
I have been reading Will Richardson’s book (2006) on Blogs, Wikis etc today, which I have to say is excellent. So many good ideas! One section I read was on setting up a new class blog. Rather than just rushing in and doing it, there are actually some important steps to take first to get it right. Sending home a letter to parents explaining about the blog and what its purpose is, is well worth the effort. If parents don’t know what you’re on about or why you’re doing it, it probably won’t achieve its purpose in terms of parent partnerships. Then there’s the permission thing - asking parents for their permission for students to participate in the blog. The level of participation needs to be considered carefully - just first names or family names as well, photos of individuals or just groups, photos labelled with names or not. These issues have to be carefully thought through and be in line with the school’s internet safety policy. It’s also a good idea to include a description of the technology - what is a blog and how does it work? What are your expectations of your students when they use the blog - an extension of the classroom so therefore the same rules apply? There is a good sample letter worth looking at on page 13.
