Blogger.com, now a Google service, has been updated and certain features may interest educators looking for a safe and simple blog opportunity for their classes. These features can be quickly explored by following the “Take a Tour” link from the blogger start page. The features that would seem to suit the needs of educators wanting to provide security for students and create a simple environment within which students can post include the opportunity to add multiple authors to a blog (team blog) and limit viewing to those whose emails are contained within a designated list.
One potential issue – as I read the instructions, users must have a gmail account for permanent access (some type of short term guest pass exists). I know that schools often block Gmail access. My wife contents this is the case because gmail accounts can be created outside of the control of the school and the email addresses are not necessarily identifiable names of individuals.
For those not put off by these restrictions, blogger.com appears to have some very nice features and the blogger is given considerable freedom is setting up his/her blog according to personal preferences.
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We are having a great time in Hawaii. One strange thing – there are chickens everywhere. Very early in the morning just as the sun is coming up, I can hear the surf and the roosters crowing. It is difficult for my still foggy brain to place exactly where I am.
