Comments on: How can our school set up a team blog for teachers? http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:56:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Latest Diigo Bookmarks (weekly) http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-57299 Latest Diigo Bookmarks (weekly) Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:37:02 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-57299 [...] How can our school set up a team blog for teachers? » Moving at the Speed of Creativity [...] [...] How can our school set up a team blog for teachers? » Moving at the Speed of Creativity [...]

]]> By: A. Mercer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-57208 A. Mercer Sat, 02 Aug 2008 03:06:11 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-57208 There are a couple of ways to do this with edublogs.org. You can have one blog, with multiple users that have different permissions. Sue Waters explains this here; http://tinyurl.com/684p4b You can also have multiple blogs and use blogrolls and RSS to link them together. Edublogs supports the aggr rss plugin, which I've used from time to time on posts and pages, AND rss widgets for the sidebar of a blog. There are a couple of ways to do this with edublogs.org. You can have one blog, with multiple users that have different permissions. Sue Waters explains this here; http://tinyurl.com/684p4b
You can also have multiple blogs and use blogrolls and RSS to link them together. Edublogs supports the aggr rss plugin, which I’ve used from time to time on posts and pages, AND rss widgets for the sidebar of a blog.

]]> By: Drupal versus Ning for Learning Community Websites » Moving at the Speed of Creativity http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-57097 Drupal versus Ning for Learning Community Websites » Moving at the Speed of Creativity Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:37:03 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-57097 [...] is a GREAT question, and relates closely to some questions Miguel Guhlin asked in response to a post I shared titled “How can our school set up a team blog for [...] [...] is a GREAT question, and relates closely to some questions Miguel Guhlin asked in response to a post I shared titled “How can our school set up a team blog for [...]

]]> By: Miguel Guhlin http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56888 Miguel Guhlin Sun, 27 Jul 2008 05:18:23 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56888 In regards to Ning.com, 4 questions I have to ask include: 1) How easy is it to backup a Ning you've created if you decide to walk away from Ning? 2) How easy is it for you to setup a Ning on your own server if you do decide to walk away? 3) Does Ning have an education only location that at least has the obligatory ".org" label so that it won't be blocked, unlike the "ning.com" that is in some districts? 4) How many administrators can you setup on a Ning? Otherwise, a Ning community is nice. Take care, Miguel In regards to Ning.com, 4 questions I have to ask include:

1) How easy is it to backup a Ning you’ve created if you decide to walk away from Ning?

2) How easy is it for you to setup a Ning on your own server if you do decide to walk away?

3) Does Ning have an education only location that at least has the obligatory “.org” label so that it won’t be blocked, unlike the “ning.com” that is in some districts?

4) How many administrators can you setup on a Ning?

Otherwise, a Ning community is nice.

Take care,
Miguel

]]> By: Miguel Guhlin http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56887 Miguel Guhlin Sun, 27 Jul 2008 05:15:01 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56887 Howdy, a companion post with up to date Walled Garden links--with MySQL dbase backend and without--and a graphic organizer here: http://tinyurl.com/5v383o A WordPress installation seems like the best way to go if you have your own server. Otherwise, get an Edublogs.org site. The problem I see with a hosted solution is that you have to learn PHP/MySQL and CSS and stuff. If you have time, inclination, great. Otherwise, the Edublogs.org solution seems the better way to go...and I think it tops Blogspot/blogger/WordPress.com solutions handily since these commercial blogs are blocked in schools. You wouldn't want to lose your potential audience from the get-go, would you? Best wishes, Miguel Guhlin Around the Corner-MGuhlin.net http://mguhlin.net Howdy, a companion post with up to date Walled Garden links–with MySQL dbase backend and without–and a graphic organizer here:
http://tinyurl.com/5v383o

A WordPress installation seems like the best way to go if you have your own server. Otherwise, get an Edublogs.org site.

The problem I see with a hosted solution is that you have to learn PHP/MySQL and CSS and stuff. If you have time, inclination, great. Otherwise, the Edublogs.org solution seems the better way to go…and I think it tops Blogspot/blogger/WordPress.com solutions handily since these commercial blogs are blocked in schools. You wouldn’t want to lose your potential audience from the get-go, would you?

Best wishes,
Miguel Guhlin
Around the Corner-MGuhlin.net
http://mguhlin.net

]]> By: Dean Mattson http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56866 Dean Mattson Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:37:11 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56866 I remember looking at Lyceum's website when I was investigating different options last year, but that's as far as I went with it. I'm not sure if I was confused by the installation instructions or I didn't see enough there to convince me that was the right choice. I thinking I just might give it a try, though, at least for personal testing. For our school, I'm probably going to stick with WPMU but I've submitted a proposal to do a session on blogging in the writing process for a local technology conference, and I'm looking for some different options that schools/teachers would be able to set up. I've got WordPress MU and Blogmeister so far. Maybe that's enough, but if there's some more good alternatives out there, I'd like to include them. I remember looking at Lyceum’s website when I was investigating different options last year, but that’s as far as I went with it. I’m not sure if I was confused by the installation instructions or I didn’t see enough there to convince me that was the right choice. I thinking I just might give it a try, though, at least for personal testing.

For our school, I’m probably going to stick with WPMU but I’ve submitted a proposal to do a session on blogging in the writing process for a local technology conference, and I’m looking for some different options that schools/teachers would be able to set up. I’ve got WordPress MU and Blogmeister so far. Maybe that’s enough, but if there’s some more good alternatives out there, I’d like to include them.

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56864 Wesley Fryer Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:46:40 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56864 np Dean - I'm glad to hear more about Wordpress MU and that you've had good experiences. Did you or have you considered <a href="http://lyceum.ibiblio.org/" rel="nofollow">Lyceum</a> instead of Wordpress MU? np Dean - I’m glad to hear more about Wordpress MU and that you’ve had good experiences. Did you or have you considered Lyceum instead of Wordpress MU?

]]> By: Dean Mattson http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56829 Dean Mattson Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:23:27 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56829 Sorry, Wes, I misread this post a little. I guess I have WordPress MU on the brain after working on the instructions for it. (And actually, I've had good luck with it myself. It's just trying to describe how to install it in a simple way that's the problem.) Thanks for the suggestion. Sorry, Wes, I misread this post a little. I guess I have WordPress MU on the brain after working on the instructions for it. (And actually, I’ve had good luck with it myself. It’s just trying to describe how to install it in a simple way that’s the problem.) Thanks for the suggestion.

]]> By: Kim Caise http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56824 Kim Caise Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:32:19 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56824 I was going to recommend a Ning type of setup for teachers that is easy to edit and manage. Gaggle.net. There is another blog that allows interaction and is easy to setup for students or teachers and is called Say ____. I can't remember the last part and couldn't find it yet in a quick search but I can find it if anyone is interested. You send class lists and each student or teacher has a specific username that has restrictions according to the level of the user. Might want to check those out in addition to the setup of a Ning. I was going to recommend a Ning type of setup for teachers that is easy to edit and manage. Gaggle.net. There is another blog that allows interaction and is easy to setup for students or teachers and is called Say ____. I can’t remember the last part and couldn’t find it yet in a quick search but I can find it if anyone is interested. You send class lists and each student or teacher has a specific username that has restrictions according to the level of the user. Might want to check those out in addition to the setup of a Ning.

]]> By: luis carbajo http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56815 luis carbajo Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:55:20 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56815 Other good option is rSitez. http://www.rsitez.com It's similar to Ning but their groups features and blogs are better for your purpose. It's paid service but cheaper than Ning when you compare closely. With them you control advertisement and also you can add membership payments so is more complete. Other good option is rSitez. http://www.rsitez.com
It’s similar to Ning but their groups features and blogs are better for your purpose. It’s paid service but cheaper
than Ning when you compare closely. With them you control advertisement and also you can add membership payments so is more complete.

]]> By: Kern Kelley http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56814 Kern Kelley Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:22:54 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56814 Hi Wes, This is something we've tackled in our own district and our solution was to go with Blogger for a few reasons. The first is that though it's great to have a walled garden for students while they are in school, I've always hated the idea of all their work being inaccessible to them when they leave. Blogger allows them to manage their access and if later they want to open it to the public they can. Plus with a Blogger account, students and teachers automatically have dozens of other services available to them. (Never underestimate the resistance to yet one more login ;) and finally, for the 13 year old issue, we sent home forms for parents. Most were impressed their kids were going to have a blog. Hi Wes,
This is something we’ve tackled in our own district and our solution was to go with Blogger for a few reasons. The first is that though it’s great to have a walled garden for students while they are in school, I’ve always hated the idea of all their work being inaccessible to them when they leave. Blogger allows them to manage their access and if later they want to open it to the public they can. Plus with a Blogger account, students and teachers automatically have dozens of other services available to them. (Never underestimate the resistance to yet one more login ;) and finally, for the 13 year old issue, we sent home forms for parents. Most were impressed their kids were going to have a blog.

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56813 Wesley Fryer Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:04:00 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56813 Dean: The last report I heard on Wordpress MU was from Miguel Guhlin, and it was also very negative. I agree that in theory Wordpress MU should be good for supporting multiple student blogs, but in this post I was more focusing on the idea of setting up a team blog. You might give <a href="http://lyceum.ibiblio.org/" rel="nofollow">Lyceum</a> a try instead of Wordpress MU, it is touted as "a multi-blog derivative of WordPress, suitable for installations with 2 or 2,000,000 blogs!" I have not directly spoken/communicated to/with any educators who have used Lyceum tho. Dean: The last report I heard on Wordpress MU was from Miguel Guhlin, and it was also very negative. I agree that in theory Wordpress MU should be good for supporting multiple student blogs, but in this post I was more focusing on the idea of setting up a team blog. You might give Lyceum a try instead of Wordpress MU, it is touted as “a multi-blog derivative of WordPress, suitable for installations with 2 or 2,000,000 blogs!” I have not directly spoken/communicated to/with any educators who have used Lyceum tho.

]]> By: Dean Mattson http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56811 Dean Mattson Sat, 26 Jul 2008 03:57:16 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56811 It's funny you should write about this. When people bring up blogs, I always wonder why they don't bring up WordPress MU. It's a much better solution in situations such as these. So a couple of days ago, I decided I would take it upon myself to create a WPMU tutorial site for schools and show everybody how easy it is to put one up. Woah, was I wrong Where WordPress can be installed in many websites with just a couple clicks, it took 12 long steps to get WPMU installed. You can see what I've got so far - http://tinyurl.com/5wbk8u - but I'm a little discouraged with the project at the moment. It'll probably scare more people off of blogs than it'll help. There's two WordPress plugins that might be helpful in the situations you describe: (1) GT Post Approval - which holds published entries by authors until an administrator approves them, and (2) Registered Users Only - which will allow only logged in users to view a particular blog It’s funny you should write about this. When people bring up blogs, I always wonder why they don’t bring up WordPress MU. It’s a much better solution in situations such as these. So a couple of days ago, I decided I would take it upon myself to create a WPMU tutorial site for schools and show everybody how easy it is to put one up.

Woah, was I wrong Where WordPress can be installed in many websites with just a couple clicks, it took 12 long steps to get WPMU installed. You can see what I’ve got so far - http://tinyurl.com/5wbk8u - but I’m a little discouraged with the project at the moment. It’ll probably scare more people off of blogs than it’ll help.

There’s two WordPress plugins that might be helpful in the situations you describe: (1) GT Post Approval - which holds published entries by authors until an administrator approves them, and (2) Registered Users Only - which will allow only logged in users to view a particular blog

]]> By: Elaine Talbert http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56808 Elaine Talbert Sat, 26 Jul 2008 03:40:13 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56808 Another very valuable post for teachers. I am going to use "Blog This" and make some observations on my blog, which I am trying to sustain through regular links to the many stimulating posts of A List edubloggers and the addition of my personal reflections. For teachers, I would recommend Blogger mainly because it links with all the other wonderful google apps. Ning as suggested above it also a worthwhile option. Elaine Another very valuable post for teachers.

I am going to use “Blog This” and make some observations on my blog, which I am trying to sustain through regular links to the many stimulating posts of A List edubloggers and the addition of my personal reflections.

For teachers, I would recommend Blogger mainly because it links with all the other wonderful google apps.

Ning as suggested above it also a worthwhile option.

Elaine

]]> By: Cephalopodcast » Blog Archive » Managed Blogs for Teachers and Students http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56805 Cephalopodcast » Blog Archive » Managed Blogs for Teachers and Students Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:53:45 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56805 [...] How can our school set up a team blog for teachers? [...] [...] How can our school set up a team blog for teachers? [...]

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56803 Wesley Fryer Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:26:54 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56803 Chris: I agree that a Ning site can be a GREAT option, since it can be made entirely private, read-only, or moderated... The problem I addressed with content filtering can be an issue with Ning, however, just as it can be with blogger and wordpress.com. If you can work out the access issues with your IT department, Ning can be great. One drawback of using a Ning site, however, is that it does not use the same <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linkback" rel="nofollow">linkback</a> functionality as blogs, which notify each other when references are made to other posts. I am perhaps not surprisingly a rather ardent blog fan and evangelist, so while the Ning offers nice additional features, I think the focus on writing and a chronology of posts which a blog offers is really great. Ning does offer feeds, but is really more of a learning community environment than strictly a blogging option. I'd like to re-emphasize the point that school districts SHOULD use a content filtering system which permits subdomains to be whitelisted. Not all do, of course, but ideally that should be the case. I think the article I recently wrote for the TCEA TechEdge on content filtering should be coming out soon, I need to post that article online and have not done so yet. Glad this info was helpful to you as well, Cheryl! :-) Chris: I agree that a Ning site can be a GREAT option, since it can be made entirely private, read-only, or moderated… The problem I addressed with content filtering can be an issue with Ning, however, just as it can be with blogger and wordpress.com. If you can work out the access issues with your IT department, Ning can be great.

One drawback of using a Ning site, however, is that it does not use the same linkback functionality as blogs, which notify each other when references are made to other posts. I am perhaps not surprisingly a rather ardent blog fan and evangelist, so while the Ning offers nice additional features, I think the focus on writing and a chronology of posts which a blog offers is really great. Ning does offer feeds, but is really more of a learning community environment than strictly a blogging option.

I’d like to re-emphasize the point that school districts SHOULD use a content filtering system which permits subdomains to be whitelisted. Not all do, of course, but ideally that should be the case. I think the article I recently wrote for the TCEA TechEdge on content filtering should be coming out soon, I need to post that article online and have not done so yet.

Glad this info was helpful to you as well, Cheryl! :-)

]]> By: Lisa Huff http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56794 Lisa Huff Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:52:40 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56794 You don't mention a <a href="http://ning.com" rel="nofollow">ning</a> as an option. A ning would allow you the privacy you seek, an interconnected network of teachers--each with his/her own blog, and the ability to form groups and a discussion forum. Set-up is quick and easy. It's worth considering. You don’t mention a ning as an option. A ning would allow you the privacy you seek, an interconnected network of teachers–each with his/her own blog, and the ability to form groups and a discussion forum. Set-up is quick and easy. It’s worth considering.

]]> By: Cheryl Oakes http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56791 Cheryl Oakes Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:19:49 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56791 Wes, This is a great review! I am getting ready to look at alternate ways to blog with different age groups in our district and this was very helpful. Wes,
This is a great review! I am getting ready to look at alternate ways to blog with different age groups in our district and this was very helpful.

]]> By: Chris Wherley http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56789 Chris Wherley Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:08:13 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56789 A ning at ning.com might be another option. A ning can be set up with specific registration, security, privacy settings. Duplication is the key. If you start using a solution such as edublogs.org or ning.com in one way, it is best if you can continue to utilize the technology solution without having to worry about the costs associated. Good luck. Keep learning and sharing, chris A ning at ning.com might be another option. A ning can be set up with specific registration, security, privacy settings.

Duplication is the key. If you start using a solution such as edublogs.org or ning.com in one way, it is best if you can continue to utilize the technology solution without having to worry about the costs associated.

Good luck.
Keep learning and sharing,
chris

]]> By: Tammy Parks http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56788 Tammy Parks Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:45:36 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/07/25/how-can-our-school-set-up-a-team-blog-for-teachers/#comment-56788 Wes, I cannot thank you enough for the thoroughness of your response to my question re: teacher blogging. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! The guidance you provided will empower our ICT leadership team to make an informed decision for Howe Public Schools. We are excited to tread these new waters in education 2.0 and introduce our teachers, students, and community to the learning power harnessed in the blogosphere! The power that I witnessed first hand during my participation in BLC 2008!! Thanks again! I will keep you up to date on our "blogging" adventures at HPS. Tammy Parks Broadcast Journalism Teacher Instructional and Communication Technology Facilitator Howe Public Schools Howe, OK Wes,

I cannot thank you enough for the thoroughness of your response to my question re: teacher blogging. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! The guidance you provided will empower our ICT leadership team to make an informed decision for Howe Public Schools. We are excited to tread these new waters in education 2.0 and introduce our teachers, students, and community to the learning power harnessed in the blogosphere! The power that I witnessed first hand during my participation in BLC 2008!!

Thanks again! I will keep you up to date on our “blogging” adventures at HPS.

Tammy Parks
Broadcast Journalism Teacher
Instructional and Communication Technology Facilitator
Howe Public Schools
Howe, OK

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