One blog - Individual student and instructor viewing / commenting only.
One blog - All students and instructor can view and contribute to a single blog.
Each student has a personal blog that other students and the instructor can see and comment on.
The term "blog" is short for "web log." Blogs are typically used as online journals or diaries. Oftentimes, blogs allow viewers to comment on the content posted. Instructors who use student blogs in their course sites are able to easily review student journals and provide ongoing feedback. However, instructors will want to provide prompts for student reflections to discourage rambling. Additional, instructors are encouraged to set up blogs as Private Journals (viewable only by the student and instructor) to encourage student self-reflection.
To create a Private Journal:
Note: By following these directions, you will be able to create one Private Journal that can be used by all students. Students will only be able to see their postings. The instructor will be able to see all student postings.
- Log into your course site.
- Click the Control Panel.
- Click on the Content Area where you’d like the blog to appear (i.e. Assignments).
- On the right-hand side of the page, click the dropdown menu and select Blog. Click the Go button to the immediate right of the dropdown menu.
- Type a name for the blog (i.e. Personal Reflection).
- Type a description for the bog, if desired.
- Under the Blog Information section, you have several options.
For Make the blog available, check Yes.
Set the blog type to be Private Journal.
Leave the remaining Blog Information settings as is.
- Under the Member Settings section, select All course members. You have several additional options.
DO NOT select the option to allow students to permanently delete blog pages as it will allow students to delete their work which can’t be retrieved.
We recommend that you leave the remaining settings as is.
- Under the Non-Member Settings section, leave the settings as is.
- Under the Create Gradebook Entry section, you can check the box if you plan to have a single assessment point for grading the student's blog. Checking the box will automatically create a column in your course site Gradebook.
- When finished, click OK to make the blog available.
To create a Group Blog:
Note: By following these directions, you will be able to create one Group Blog that can be used by all students and the instructor. Both students and the instructor can post and view all entries.
- Log into your course site.
- Click the Control Panel.
- Click on the Content Area where you’d like the blog to appear (i.e. Assignments).
- On the right-hand side of the page, click the dropdown menu and select Blog. Click the Go button to the immediate right of the dropdown menu.
- Type a name for the blog (i.e. Personal Reflection).
- Type a description for the bog, if desired.
- Under the Blog Information section, you have several options.
For Make the blog available, check Yes.
Set the blog type to be Group Blog .
Leave the remaining Blog Information settings as is.
- Under the Member Settings section, select All course members. You have several additional options.
DO NOT select the option to allow students to permanently delete blog pages as it will allow students to delete their work which can’t be retrieved.
We recommend you leave the remaining settings as is.
- Under the Non-Member Settings section, leave the settings as is.
- Under the Create Gradebook Entry section, you can check the box if you plan to have a single assessment point for grading the student's blog. Checking the box will automatically create a column in your course site Gradebook.
- When finished, click OK to make the blog available.
To create an Individual Blog:
Note: By following these directions, you will be able to create an individual blog for each student. Other students and the instructor will be able to see and comment on each other's blogs.
- Log into your course site.
- Click the Control Panel.
- Click on the Content Area where you’d like the blog to appear (i.e. Assignments).
- On the right-hand side of the page, click the dropdown menu and select Blog. Click the Go button to the immediate right of the dropdown menu.
- Type a name for the blog (i.e. Name of Student).
- Type a description for the bog, if desired.
- Under the Blog Information section, you have several options.
For Make the blog available, check Yes.
Set the blog type to be Group Blog .
Leave the remaining Blog Information settings as is.
- Under the Member Settings section, select Specific groups and course members. Click on the name of the student for whom the blog is being created. Click the arrow pointing to the right to move that person to the Selected Members box.
You have several additional options.
DO NOT select the option to allow students to permanently delete blog pages as it will allow students to delete their work which can’t be retrieved.
Leave the remaining settings as is.
- Under the Non-Member Settings section, be sure to check the box for Allow non-members to view the blog.
Also, check the boxes to allow non-members of the blog to View Comments and Write Comments.
- Under the Create Gradebook Entry section, you can check the box if you plan to have a single assessment point for grading the student's blog. Checking the box will automatically create a column in your course site Gradebook.
- When finished, click OK to make the blog available.
- Repeat steps 3 - 11 to create an individual blog for each student.