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First off, if you need help setting up a blog, click here. All of the instructions and recommendations are in regards to the free blog service www.blogger.com, hosted by Google. There are plenty of other blog services, some that you pay for, but this one works really well, is easy to use, and most conveniently, free.

Setting up your blog for safe use

• Set yourself up for success by creating your blog using a professional template - this minimizes the feel of oddness and resistance you may meet among people who have never used one.
• Adjust your settings on your blog to only allow one person to post, namely yourself, as a way to limit fraudulent or ignorant postings. Have students write their blogs using some form of text editor, then assist them with the posting, keeping the password safe.
• Setup comments on your blogs so that allowed for anyone (that way all viewers can post a response) but set it so that all comments are emailed to the monitor (you) for approval before posting to the blog archives. This is easy to do, and well worth it.
• Be open and honest with your students about what safe blogging is all about. By practicing "safe blogging" as a class, they will soon see what it's all about.

Blog as message board

• A blog is more than just a "web log", which is nothing more than a fancy online diary. With proper setup, it can be used as a very controllable message board where students can post responses to daily or weekly writing prompts, take home assignments, or extra credit.
• Make sure you are setup to receive comments from anyone - then post a message that requires a response. Ask students to post responses either on their own time, or as a class, or during their time in the computer lab. Since you have it setup to be approved by you via email, it becomes very easy to track who has responded, what they said, and when. And in the end, their responses can be shared with the rest of the class, or another class across the world. This works great when working between two classes at two different schools studying the same topics. Awesome for problem solving!

Blog as lesson plans / community messenger

• The blog is an easy way to display what's going on in the classroom. Post a weekly overview of what will be taking place in the classroom as a reminder to students and parents alike.
• Showcase your work, and the work of your students through 5-minute blog postings at the end of the day. It helps the community get involved, allows you to review the day, and creates a great moment of reflection.

Blog as a great way to integrate writing in your curriculum

• Get away from paper, safe some trees, and use the blog as your online writing journal. We are preparing students for jobs that don't even exist yet - learning to blog early will only help them.
• Have students post their writing on their own blog (see below), and give comments, provide feedback, and allow other students to provide peer editing tips - all online!

Blogs for all students?

• If you have the resources (the blog is free, but enough computer stations, etc.) then why not have all students create their own blog as a method for them to create their own materials. Let the students take charge of their learning by letting them express themselves to you the teacher, and to others within the classroom, and global, communities.

A note on email accounts

• Make sure to use a service that is always available, and reliable - namely Google's Gmail. Free, and offering more than 2.5 GB (2,500 MB) of storage, it's by far the easiest to use as it works with Microsoft's Outlook, Entourage, and other mail clients.
• Teach the responsible way of creating a screen name, or user name for email. For example, mandate formats that appear professional in nature, does not hint of lewdness, and one that will look good on a resume. Here's one example: e.andreas.johansson@gmail.com

A note on creating strong passwords

• Don't tell anyone what it is, and don't use "weak" ones like whole words, social security numbers, or names of your dog. They will be hacked in less than a minute.
• Create a strong password, using all sorts of symbols, numbers, and combinations thereof to fool perpetrators. Exchange o's for 0's, and s's for $ as a start. Here are some examples:

  • carl_21&#^%
  • 1@#funtime_)(*
  • pa$$w0rd4meqaz
  • la)(me98&^

Use Microsoft's Password Checker as a start when thinking of a new one. It is available here: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/checker.mspx