Here are some tips that parents and educators can follow when blogging with teens or pre-teens.
1. Go over internet safety rules
Online safety can never be underestimated. Kids should be aware of the dangers that exist and become knowledgeable about general safety rules. Kids Health and the SafeKids.com share helpful information on the subject.
2. Set guidelines
Guidelines should be set for what your child/student can and cannot share. While there are a variety of subjects to blog about and share, blogs are usually accessible by a wide range of viewers, so they should be careful not to share content that is personally identifiable.
3. Choose a good platform
Review the websites that allow for blogging and determine which one best suits your needs. This will usually be according to the type of blog you want to have. Education blogs with lots of tips and resources usually find their home on platforms that are more conducive for that type of function. According to Edudemic, you should decide whether you want your blog to be
public, so you can share and interact with other classes, or private. "Tumblr for beginners and WordPress for more advanced users" (Gopin, 2012).
4. Emphasize content over form
Blogging is an informal form of writing. While the blog has to be
readable and make sense, it’s more important for students to feel
comfortable expressing themselves.
5. Encourage the use of Web 2.0 technologies
Blogs don't have to be limited to just text. Students should be encouraged to add streaming video, and integrating lots of pictures, video diaries, interviews, chat features and more.
6. Relax!
The internet and blogging can be intimidating. Help your child/student relax and not become nervous or anxious. Blogging can be a wonderful thing and is no different from writing in a journal or diary. The more they use technology, the more relaxed they'll feel.
Do you have more tips for blogging? Feel free to add them in the comments section :)
References:
Gopin, L. (2012). 8 Tips for Blogging with Students. Edudemic. Retrieved October 2, 2012 from http://edudemic.com/2012/02/blog-with-students/
Image 1: Blogging Tips http://www.aglimpseinsideblog.com/2011/03/blogging-tips.html
Image 2: Montrose and Olathe Schools http://montrosesd.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=225724
