I have just barely begun my adventure in student blogging. My students have created their blogs, customized them, joined the class, and created their first post.
For the first post I assigned a simple set of questions called “Where I Stand,” questions that ask students to examine their own likes/dislikes, beliefs, and positions.
I wanted to choose a relatively simple format for the first post because my main goal here is just to make sure that each student actually figures out how to make the post.
I read through several student blogs last night, and I found that my questions became clearer. Here’s a list that I have begun:
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How much should I assign topics and how much should I allow them to choose? I’ve always been a proponent of student choice in writing, but I also know that when they are learning a new tool, the actual writing may have to take a back seat until students have a grasp of how to navigate the technology.
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How will I develop this gradual release from teacher assigned topics to more freedom?
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What are the best themes/colors to choose on a blog? I have already found that certain themes are difficult to read or appear less professional than I would like.
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How can I teach my students to create a professional image on their blogs? Many students know how to use the internet for social and entertainment purposes, but I want them to think about crafting a more adult tone on their blogs.
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What should I do about commenting? What is important to teach about commenting? Should I assign particular classmates to each student? Should I let them choose a certain number of classmates?
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How can I teach and model internet civility for my students? This is my biggest question, I think, probably because this is one of the most significant issues facing internet communication in our society.
If any of you have ventured into the world of student blogging, I would love to hear your perspective on any of these questions! Or, what are your questions about student blogging?
Teach It Slant 
I know that, as a student, I would have more enthusiasm for the project the fewer requirements you gave. Also, if you want their blogs to have a more adult tone, you could give out awards to the students who get five comments on their blogs from adults. I think it’s important to give the students a goal you want them to reach but not micromanage the steps they take to get there. They have to learn on their own and use more creativity that way.
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Thank you so much for your thoughts, Sharon. I agree with you that I need to trust them more and give them more freedom. I think I will have the talk about audience with them. I am going to send out an email to the parents, letting them know about the student blogs. Asking students to get comments from adults is a good suggestion! Thank you for really helping me get back to the idea of giving my students the freedom to explore and make their own decisions.
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