Organising
Blog naming system
Decide the default Title system for each blog.
Are you going to show the student name? First name only?
We have gone with Name @ Name of School
URL system
For multiple blogs the naming system must be absolutely consistent
We have gone with schoolinitials+firstname+firstletter
ie pes+firstname+firstletter
Create a ‘Super Admin’ email address
This super Admin user will 'own' the blogs. This way management have access to them at any time. When students move from class-to-class over the years the blog can be easily accessed. And of course if anything unpleasant happens the school can take charge of the situation quickly.
IF you are a Google Apps for Education school, then yes, do create an email account inside your school domain eg blogowner@myschool.school.nz
If you are NOT a GAFE school, then use a public gmail address
If you are NOT a GAFE school, create an email using your school domain or you will have lots of complications IF you shift to becoming a GAFE school in the future
See here for a long explanation of this
Create a Blog template to use for every student
Create a template blog and set it up exactly how you would like it to be for each student
Export the template as an .xml file using the Backup function in the templates setting
Blogger Template from KPE TV on Vimeo.
Create a master spreadsheet containing all the student info needed for blogs
This master spreadsheet will need to include:
Student name, email address, class, year level etc
Create the blog URL on THIS spreadsheet
Tip: use the formula Nevyn Hira has written for us to automate the URL creation quickly and , more importantly, accurately
=lower(concat("http://",concat(concat(concat("PES",A5),left(B5,1)),".blogspot.com")))
Blogger Spreadsheet from KPE TV on Vimeo.
Teacher Dashboard or go it alone?
Decide if you are going to manage the blogs manually or
Are you going to investigate Teacher dashboard for your school and have posts and comments displayed in a Teacher Dashboard Tab?
This video may explain this a little more