Url: http://www.kidblog.org

Australian Curriculum ICT Capability link:

Applying personal security protocols levels 2- 4

Students apply generally accepted social protocols when sharing information in online environments (Australian Curriculum and Assessment Reporting Authority, 2015)

Age group recommendation: Years 2-6

​Cost: $36 per teacher, per year

Accessibility: It is easily accessible on all digital devices as it is a web-based platform

 

Description: Kidblog is a student and teacher friendly, highly secure blogging platform that can be used for sharing ideas and learning products both in the primary school classroom and for home learning.

 

Rationale

Kidblog provides an authentic context for students to interact safely with others in an online environment. It requires them to practice following personal security protocols to protect their identities through careful selection of audience for post publications, and the design and use of appropriate passwords (Boling, 2008). Kidblog promotes socially constructed learning as when posting their reflections and work samples to their class blog, students must consider their audience and think critically to ensure that they do not publish inappropriate content or their personal details (Lamonica, 2010). Kidblog is also beneficial as it requires teachers to act as moderators of content. Therefore if the students make mistakes, they are provided with the safety net of their posts being checked and an opportunity to be notified of errors to be corrected before their blog post is made public (Lamonica, 2010).  

 

References:

   Australian Curriculum and Assessment Reporting Authority. (2014). Foundation to Year 10 Curriculum: ICT General Capability Learning Continuum. Retrieved from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/generalcapabilities/information-and-communication-technology-capability/continuum#layout=columns

 

   Boling, E., Castek, J., Zawilinski, L., Barton, K., & Nierlich, T. (2008). Collaborative literacy: Blogs and Internet projects. The Reading Teacher, 61(6), 504-506. Retrieved from https://www.chatham-nj.org/cms/lib/NJ01000518/Centricity/Domain/34/Collaborative%20Literacy%20Boling%20RT.pdf

 

   Lamonica, C. (2010). What are the Benefits of Blogging in the Elementary Classroom? (Doctoral dissertation, St. John Fisher College). Retrieved from http://reflectivepractitioner.pbworks.com/f/Lamonica+Capstone+Paper.pdf