So what is a Blog?

Blog or web log is a personal web diary, hosted in a collaborative space where you create postings. Your audiences (you can chose who they are) can leave comments or if authorised can add to the content of the blog.
Postings are created not just using text but also multi media - video, photos, podcasts etc
The blog interface is easy to use and in the context of ECE centres provides families and whanau with the ability to learn more about what has been happening in their child's life while attending their ECE centre.

Why do you want a centre blog? Things to consider!

Now it’s time to have some discussions with your team and plan for future blogging development. What’s your purpose? What content do you want and need on it? Consider your audience – what do they need and want to know and share? What will entice your audience to return? Planning becomes essential in establishing and developing a blog.
Possibilities for blogs and future postings:
Centre and operation information: hours, cost, philosophy, mission statement, contacts details etc.
Transition information
Events shared through learning stories, video, photos and slideshows
Weekly journal – working smarter
Daily slideshow
Staff information – first names, photos, qualifications, interests
Events calendar
Parent comments and feed back
Parent contributions and voices
Newsletters, notices
Uploading small videos, photostory3
Podcasting
E-portfolios
What else

How to get started

A easy to follow "how to get started" video to help set up your blog - good luck.
Here is the link you will need to get started www.blogger.com the instructions on the site are very easy to follow.

Permissions and settings

Helpful hints to make sure only those you want to view your blog can.

Parent involvement

How to maximise your blog to achieve maximum participation and access for teachers and families.

Discussion within the team and with families will be essential as permissions will need to be sort for the posting of photos etc. Outlining “netiquette” of online participation and the protocols of the use of photos and leaving comments and uploading information online. Discussion around the importance and purpose of using the blog and the adding of comments and making contributions will heighten your success with this ICT intuitive. Maybe a parent evening to inform them of what’s been happening and a workshop on how they can read the blog and it’s uses. I am sure once they realise that only your families will be able to view this site they will feel comfortable in allowing their children’s photos and movies to be posted.
Other considerations:
Who will be responsible for regularly updating the blog?
What role will children play in adding/creating postings?
How will all teachers become comfortable in using the blog?
What discussions and PD will be required between staff, families and children?
Will the blog be private/public/invite only? And why?

Family Permission form example

This form has been slighted adapted from the netsafe site to include blogging and potential uses of photos.
Further netsafe polices can be downloaded from:
http://www.netsafe.org.nz

Consider your content

Things to be mindful of the new copyright law http://www.beehive.govt.nz
We as educators must ensure that the copyright act is not breached. Therefore consider the use of:

• Copyright music especially when added to photostory3 movies. Why do you need this music playing in the background? Aren't children's voices or the creation of their own music (through the likes of GarageBand) acceptable? The consequences of adding and uploading such content could be major not only for your centre but also to your managing body. Copyright free music is available on the net - just google "copyright free music".
  
• Youtube movies -Youtube provides you with HTML codes which you can embed into your blogs. This is fine however you cannot download these movies onto your computer. I know of centres who do this and then upload the movies onto their blog in order to remove the Youtube link therefore making the site more child safe. However this is prohibited and breaches the copyright law.

For further reading on the new copyright law go to www.netguide and this article - "Creative industries back copy right law".

Adding Youtubes and slidshows

OH NO I found a mistake - how to edit or delete your posts

How easy is that? You can also delete your posts from here.

Adding gadgets to your blog

Some of these gadgets are pretty groovy however think about "what's your purpose". Are your readers going to benefit from these? Some allow inappropriate content/ads so please check this before adding any of these "toys".

Ulearn08: AFL & ePortfolios

View more presentations from Nick Rate. (tags: elearning formative)

How to remove the navigation bar

http://thecutestblogontheblock.com
This site also has free amazing blog backgrounds and other gadgets - have fun