The directory entries are organised according to type of software, listed on the left.
Desktop Applications
General tools for working with information on your PC
Audacity - an audio editing tool
audacity.sourceforge.net/
Audacity is a sound editing software application that is very popular in schools. It can be used to record, edit, playback and podcast music, voices and other sound files. Use it to record interviews, music and to edit files together to create a podcast.
Files can be saved in a variety of formats and the application is robust and stable. The application is well documented and support is available from the forums on the project website.
From the Open Source Schools presentation at BETT 2009, slides and commentary by José Picardo, filmed by Hannah Wise of BBC Backstage, edited by Leon Cych of Learn4Life:
Celtx - a video production tool
Celtx is the world's first all-in-one media pre-production software. It has everything you need to take your story from concept to production. Celtx replaces 'paper, pen & binder' pre-production with a digital approach that's more complete, simpler to work with, and easier to share.
Celtx helps you pre-produce all types of media - film, video, documentary, theater, machinima, comics, advertising, gaming, music video, radio, podcasts, videocasts, and however else you choose to tell your story.
http://celtx.com/
Firefox - a web browser
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/firefox/
As the Firefox website says:
"Firefox 3 is an internet browser that is flexible, efficient and secure and offers all the features of other browsers. You can navigate through pages, bookmarking those you might want to revisit and using tabs to keep open several at any one time. You can search within a page and across the web. You can save, copy and print pages or selected parts of pages. And you can customise the browser to suit your own preferences. Security is a high priority."
Freemind - a mind-mapping tool
http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Free Mind is a piece of OSS that allows you create interactive mind maps. Mind mapping is widely used in education and this software enables the creation of interactive mind maps that can be shared, for example on a web page.
Note that the current version is only 0.8.1 - which means it may not be completelty stable. However, as it only takes a few minutes to download and install and is easy to start using, you may want to try it out.
GIMP - a bitmap graphics tool
http://www.gimp.org/
GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It has many capabilities. It can be used as a simple paint program, an expert quality photo retouching program, an online batch processing system, a mass production image renderer, an image format converter, etc.
It includes these features:
- a full suite of painting tools including brushes, a pencil, an airbrush, cloning;
- tile-based memory management, so image size is limited only by available disc space;
- full Alpha channel support for working with transparency;
- layers and channels;
- advanced scripting capabilities;
- multiple undo/redo (limited only by disc space);
- transformation tools including rotate, scale, shear and flip;
- file formats supported include GIF, JPEG, PNG, XPM, TIFF, TGA, MPEG, PS, PDF, PCX, BMP and many others;
- selection tools including rectangle, ellipse, free, fuzzy, bezier and intelligent;
- plug-ins that allow for the easy addition of new file formats and new effect filters.
GIMP is expandable and extensible. It is designed to be augmented with plug-ins and extensions to do just about anything. The advanced scripting interface allows everything from the simplest task to the most complex image manipulation procedures to be easily scripted. GIMP is written and developed under X11 on UNIX platforms. But basically the same code also runs on MS Windows and Mac OS X.
Inkscape - a vector-graphics tool
http://www.inkscape.org/
Supported SVG features include shapes, paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending, transforms, gradients, patterns, and grouping. Inkscape also supports Creative Commons metadata, node editing, layers, complex path operations, bitmap tracing, text-on-path, flowed text, direct XML editing, and more. It imports formats such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and others and exports PNG as well as multiple vector-based formats.
KompoZer - a web design tool
KompoZer is a complete web authoring system that combines web file management and easy-to-use WYSIWYG web page editing.
KompoZer is designed to be extremely easy to use, making it ideal for non-technical computer users who want to create an attractive, professional-looking web site without needing to know HTML or web coding.
http://kompozer.net/
MuseScore - a music notation program
http://musescore.org/
from the website. . .
"MuseScore is a free cross platform WYSIWYG music notation program, licenced under GNU GPL.
Some highlights:
- WYSIWYG, notes are entered on a "virtual note sheet"
- Unlimited number of staves
- Up to four voices per staff
- Easy and fast note entry with mouse, keyboard or MIDI
- Integrated sequencer and FluidSynth software synthesizer
- Import and export of MusicXML and Standard MIDI Files (SMF)
- Platform independent code, binaries available for Windows, Mac and Linux
- Available in 20 languages
- GNU GPL licenced
To find out more, visit http://musescore.org/
To download, click here http://musescore.org/download
OOo4Kids - a child-friendly office suite
http://wiki.ooo4kids.org/index.php/Main_Page
OOo4Kids is OpenOffice.org but restyled to make it easier for younger children (and possibly some adults).
It includes all the things available with OpenOffice.org: a word processor, a drawing program, a presentation editor and a spreadsheet, but in a much clearer and simpler form.
These tools enable pupils aged between 7 and 12 to produce reports, explore numbers, develop literacy, present their ideas or research, even produce their homework.
To find out more, visit http://wiki.ooo4kids.org/index.php/Main_Page
To download, click here http://download.ooo4kids.org/en
Screenshots
OpenOffice.org - a professional office suite
http://www.openoffice.org/
Open Office is a suite of office tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and maths formulas.
It is easy to learn and is very similar to other office software in look and feel and in features. The Open Office website contains tutorials and manuals.
The word processor, Writer, is suitable for making professional documents, reports, newsletters and brochures.
A powerful spreadsheet called Calc contains complex tools for calculation, data analysis and visualisation; its built-in charting tools are able to make customisable 2D and 3D charts.
The presentation utility, Impress, uses effects, animation and drawing tools to help you create great multimedia slide shows to present the way you want to.
Use the Draw component to produce either simple diagrams or complex 3D pictures and special effects for use in documents and presentations.
The database tool, Base, gives you all the tools you need for day to day database work in a simple spreadsheet-like form.
Math is a straightforward editor for maths formulas and equations.
From the Open Source Schools presentation at BETT 2009, slides and commentary by Michelle walters, filmed by Hannah Wise of BBC Backstage, edited by Leon Cych of Learn4Life:
Scribus - a DTP tool
http://www.scribus.net/
Scribus is an open-source program that brings award-winning professional page layout to Linux/Unix, MacOS X, OS/2 and Windows desktops with a combination of "press-ready" output and new approaches to page layout.
With Scribus you can:
- create documents like CD covers, greeting cards, company brochures, newsletters and posters;
- create files which will print easily;
- create interactive PDF forms and presentation documents (interactive PDFs have special features like hyperlinks, annotations, bookmarks and navigation features - just like a web browser);
- create logos and drawings with easy-to-use tools, including the ability to create neat font effects;
- import photos and other artwork with precise colour control for high fidelity printing.
Scribus comes with support options to help you achieve the best result. There is an enthusiastic and friendly community around Scribus that assists beginner and professional alike.
Thunderbird - an email client
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/thunderbird/
Thunderbird 3 helps you keep your vital information organised, manage your unruly inbox, and stay informed. By adding different extensions, it scales to the most sophisticated organisational needs while making it easy to find what you need.
Mozilla has bolstered Thunderbird’s acclaimed security and privacy measures to ensure that your communications and identity remain safe. It’s like having your own on-line security guard.
Thunderbird allows you to customise your e-mail to suit your specific needs whether it’s how you search and find messages or listening to music right out of your inbox.
With the lightning extension added it gives you full calendar functions as well.
Useful features include advanced folder views, message tagging (for example “Done”, “To do”, “Later” or your own tags), message browsing (with forward and back buttons), flexible search tools and integration with webmail systems.
VUE - a concept-mapping tool
http://vue.tufts.edu/
Visual Understanding Environment (VUE) is a concept and content mapping application, developed to support teaching, learning and research and for anyone who needs to organize, contextualize, and access digital information.
Using a simple set of tools and a basic visual grammar consisting of nodes and links, tutors and students can map and present relationships between concepts, ideas and digital content.
Vue is available for use with; Mac OS X 10.4 +, Windows XP, Vista or 7, Linux (Sun Java 1.6+ required)
To find out more visit http://vue.tufts.edu/
To download direct, click here. http://vue.tufts.edu/download/index.cfm
Screenshots
Education-specific application
Software written with children and/or particular curriculum areas in mind.
GCompris - educational software suite
http://gcompris.net/-en-
"GCompris is an educational software suite comprising of numerous activities for children aged 2 to 10. Some of the activities are game orientated, but nonetheless still educational. Below you can find a list of categories with some of the activities available in that category.
computer discovery: keyboard, mouse, different mouse gesture, ...
algebra: table memory, enumeration, double entry table, mirror image, ...
science: the canal lock, the water cycle, the submarine, electric simulation ...
geography: place the country on the map
games: chess, memory, connect 4, oware, sudoku ...
reading: reading practice
other: learn to tell time, puzzle of famous paintings, vector drawing, cartoon making, ...
Currently GCompris offers in excess of 100 activities and more are being developed. GCompris is free software, that means that you can adapt it to your own needs, improve it and, most importantly, share it with children everywhere."
Geogebra - a maths development tool
http://www.geogebra.org/cms/
GeoGebra is a dynamic mathematics software for schools that joins geometry, algebra and calculus.
On the one hand, GeoGebra is an interactive geometry system. You can do constructions with points, vectors, segments, lines, conic sections as well as functions and change them dynamically afterwards.
On the other hand, equations and coordinates can be entered directly. Thus, GeoGebra has the ability to deal with variables for numbers, vectors and points, finds derivatives and integrals of functions and offers commands like Root or Extremum.
These two views are characteristic of GeoGebra: an expression in the algebra window corresponds to an object in the geometry window and vice versa.
GeoGebra has won a number of international awards.
Marble - a virtual globe
http://edu.kde.org/marble/
Marble is a geographical atlas and a virtual desktop globe which lets you quickly explore other places on our planet.
You can use Marble to look up places, to easily create maps, measure distances and to retrieve detail information about locations that you have just heard about in the news or on the Internet.
The user interface is clean, simple and easy to use.
For more information, visit http://edu.kde.org/marble/
To download, click here http://edu.kde.org/marble/download.php
Screenshots
Numpty Physics - a physics simulation tool
Numpty physics is a cross platform application licensed under the GPL. It supports problem solving and understanding the nature of forces and is ...well quite addictive. The user has to draw objects on the screen and guide them to break the target using gravity and other forces. Its a bit like drawing a diagram on a blackboard that suddenly acquires all the physical properties of real objects. You can get numpty physics from http://numptyphysics.garage.maemo.org/
Any comments?
[Screenshot added, promoted to front page and added to directory - Admin]
Piano Booster - "guitar hero" for piano
An email from the developer:
Piano Booster is a new free Open Source Application that makes sight reading music fun. It takes elements of the game Guitar Hero but now it uses a real Piano Keyboard and the game has been turned sideways so the notes scroll along a musical stave. So instead of pressing buttons on a fake guitar you end up learning to play a real musical instrument -- the piano.
To find out what it is all about take a look at the YouTube video:
or look at the screen shot:
First choose a MIDI file then select the "left" hand or the "right" hand or if you are feeling really brave choose "both hands" and try to play along. The "Follow You" mode make it really easy to sight read the scrolling notes as the whole accompaniment will stop and wait for you to find and play the right notes. The accuracy bar monitors how well you are playing.
The software is available for free (Open Source GPL) for both Linux and Windows from this site: http://pianobooster.sourceforge.net/
Scratch - a graphical programming tool
http://scratch.mit.edu/
Scratch is a programming language that makes it easy to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art -- and share your creations on the web.
As young people create and share Scratch projects, they learn important mathematical and computational ideas, while also learning to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively.
Find out more about Scratch here, http://scratch.mit.edu/
To download direct, click here, http://scratch.mit.edu/download
Screenshots
The KDE Education Project
The KDE Education Project offer Free Educational Software based on the KDE technologies: students, parents, children, teachers, adults, can freely use the software, copy it, modify it to your needs and enjoy learning!
Please have a look at the Tour webpage to get a quick preview of the programs which are translated in more than 65 languages.
Their primary focus is on school children aged 3 to 18, and the specialized user interface needs of young users. However, they also have programs to aid teachers in planning lessons, and others that are of interest to university students and anyone else with a desire to learn!
While until now only available on Unix, BSD and Linux, still in beta but already usable, the KDE 4 series brings the applications to Windows. Read more on the KDE-Edu on Windows page!
The following applications are currently available in the KDE Education Project.
Tux Paint - a bitmap graphics tool
Tux Paint helps children learn how to draw and create their own drawings. As a reviewer says, “Using the program is so effortless and fun maybe because Tux, the little Linux mascot, is guiding you and giving advice at the bottom. Tux Paint also has cute sounds that make me want to be a child once more.
Tux Paint may be simple but its tools are not. Where can you find a squirrel brush style or a starfish pen? It is a really straightforward program and cleverly made to suit the needs of the children. People will not even need to guide their kids because all is self explanatory. Parents can leave their kids to wander and discover their potential talents. Who knows, maybe your kid will be the next Da Vinci!”
Tux Typing - a typing tutor
http://tuxtype.sourceforge.net/
Tux Typing 2 is a touch typing program to help you increase your skill and speed in using a computer keyboard. It has something for everyone no matter who or where you are. It is designed to be fun to play and also as a tool for those who have the more serious side of typing in mind.
Most people think faster than they can type. With Tux Typing 2 you can follow some easy to do lessons and learn to type like a professional. Through lessons and two great mini-games you can see how fast you are and improve while you have fun.
System tools
Software such as operating systems and utilities
7Zip - a file-compression tool
http://www.7-zip.org/
7-Zip allows you to compress large files into smaller ones, or to place lots of files and folders into an easy to access archive. The program is highly configurable, allowing the user to balance the level of compression and speed. The interface is designed to look like the standard Windows Explorer, and is available in 40 languages.
Edubuntu - educational Linux system
http://www.edubuntu.org/
From the Edubuntu website:
Edubuntu is based on Ubuntu, a complete operating system that uses the Linux kernel and is freely available to anyone. As an education-driven operating system, Edubuntu provides a complete solution for:
- an organisation or Education Ministry that is wanting to take full advantage of the benefits that open source software offers to the educational environment;
- educators and school personnel who would like to set up Edubuntu in a networked learning environment;
- home users who would like to have a standalone computer system that focuses on education for the younger members of the household.
Edubuntu gathers together the best available free software and digital materials for education. It contains a large number of educational applications including GCompris, KDE Edutainment Suite, and Schooltool Calendar. Edubuntu is developed to enable teachers with limited technical knowledge and skills to set-up a computer lab, or establish an on-line learning environment, in an hour or less, and then administer that environment.
One of the key technologies included is the Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) which allows you to boot thin clients from an Edubuntu LTSP server. For educational environments, LTSP lowers hardware costs by enabling the use of older or less powerful machines as thin clients, as well as reduced administration overhead by having only to install and maintain the software on the server. When a workstation fails, it can simply be replaced without data loss or reinstallation of the operating system.
LTSP - a Linux thin-client system
The Linux Terminal Server Project adds thin-client support to Linux servers. LTSP is a flexible, cost effective solution that is used by schools, businesses, and organizations all over the world to install and deploy desktop workstations. A growing number of Linux distributions include LTSP out-of-the-box. New thin-clients and legacy PCs alike can be used to browse the Web, send e-mail, create documents, and run other desktop applications. LTSP not only improves Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), but more importantly, provides increased value over traditional computing solutions. LTSP workstations can run applications from Linux and Windows servers. Linux thin-clients have proven to be extremely reliable because tampering and viruses are virtually non-existent.
We think that LTSP is worth considering for a range of solutions, from Cybercafes to major site wide installations.
http://ltsp.org/
Linux Netbooks
From the Open Source Schools presentation at BETT 2009, slides and commentary by Doug Belshaw, filmed by Hannah Wise of BBC Backstage, edited by Leon Cych of Learn4Life
Nagios - a network monitoring tool
Nagios is the industry standard in enterprise-class monitoring. It allows you to gain insight into your network and fix problems before customers know they even exist. It's stable, scalable, supported, and extensible. Most importantly, it works.
What does Nagios provide?
Comprehensive Network Monitoring
- Windows
- Linux/Unix
- Routers, Switches, Firewalls
- Printers
- Services
- Applications
Immediate Awareness and Insight
- Receive immediate notifications of problems via email, pager and cellphone
- Multi-user notification escalation capabilities
- See detailed status information through the Nagios web interface
Problem Remediation
- Acknowledge problems through the web interface
- Automatically restart failed applications, services and hosts with event handlers
Proactive Planning
- Schedule downtime for anticipated host, service, and network upgrades
- Capacity planning capabilites through usage monitoring
Reporting Options
- SLA availability reports
- Alert and notification history reports
- Trending reports through integration with Cacti and RRD-based addons
Multi-Tenant/Multi-User Capabilites
- Multiple users can access the web interface
- Each user can have their own unique, restricted view
Integration With Your Existing Applications
- Trouble ticket systems
- Wikis
Easily Extendable Architecture
- Over 200 community addons are available to enhance Nagios
Stable, Reliable, and Respected Platform
- 10 years in development
- Scales to monitor 100,000+ nodes
- Failover protection capabilities
- Winner of multiple awards
- Constant media coverage
Huge Community
- 250,000+ users worldwide
- Active mailing lists
- Extensive community website network
Customizable Code
http://www.nagios.org/
Thin Clients
Standard PCs have all the computing power they need inside one box, but that isn't the only way to do things. In the thin client model, a single big server computer does most of the work and holds all the applications and data. Instead of a PC on their desk, users have a “thin client”: like a small PC but without as much computing power.
The benefit of thin clients include cost (they're cheaper than PCs), manageability (everything important is on the server so instead of installing and fixing software on twenty PCs, you only need to do it on one server) and smaller environmental footprint (a thin client typically uses less than 10 watts of electricity; PCs can use over 200 watts).
Thin clients aren't suitable for everything. PCs are normally more appropriate for multimedia applications and 3D graphics. For most other applications, including web apps, thin clients work very well.
As well as buying thin clients, it's also possible to convert old PCs into thin clients, sometimes by doing nothing more than removing their hard drives. Many schools are using this to extend the lives of their older computer hardware]
A thin client café can run Linux and a wide range of Open Source and proprietary applications. This approach gives staff and students the opportunity to try Linux and Open Source without losing the current software they're familiar with. It's also a great way of increasing the number of computers in the school without spending a fortune, and of introducing students to a wider range of operating systems and applications.
There is a current trend for personal computing to switch from PC-based applications (running locally on your machine, like Word, Outlook, Picasa) to web-based applications (for example, Google, Google Docs, Facebook, eBay, Flickr and Bebo), and students are spending more of their computer-time using the Internet or office suites (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets or presentations), all of which are well suited to a thin client café (because all that’s needed is a browser, which generally runs fine on thin clients). This approach frees up more powerful PCs to be used in settings where the power is needed (eg for multimedia applications).
Web-based applications
Software that installs on a webserver and is then accessed on-line via the Internet or an intranet.
Drupal
http://drupal.org
Drupal goes beyond standard content management and offers industry standard functionality including blogs, forums and social networking. It is an ideal web platform for collaborative working, discussion and communities of practice as it offers highly customisable content and user types, meaning that the web manager can make it very easy for users to contribute content and engage in interaction with the site and other users.
As with other web based solutions (for example Moodle), Drupal has a strong community behind it and active development of additional modules (adding functionality) and themes (to change the look and design of the site)
This website has been created using Drupal.
Joomla!
http://www.joomla.org/
Joomla! is an open source content management system (CMS) that it widely used to create websites that have a high level of functionality, whilst being easy to edit and manage.
The CMS puts non-technical users in charge of the content as it provides a password-protected web based administration area.
Joomla! is a stable application with a thriving community supporting the project. In addition to the core functionality provided by Joomla! there are many 'plug-ins' that have been developed by the community to extend it.
Mahara
As described on the Mahara site:
"Mahara is an open source e-portfolio system with a flexible display framework. Mahara, meaning 'think' or 'thought' in Te Reo Māori, is user centred environment with a permissions framework that enables different views of an e-portfolio to be easily managed. Mahara also features a weblog, resume builder and social networking system, connecting users and creating online learner communities.
Mahara and Moodle can use authentication plugins to provide single-sign-on for the two applications out of the box."
http://mahara.org/
Moodle
http://moodle.org/
Moodle is an online Virtual Learning Environment
As described on the main Moodle project site:
Moodle is a course management system (CMS) - a free, Open Source software package designed using sound pedagogical principles, to help educators create effective online learning communities. You can download and use it on any computer you have handy (including webhosts), yet it can scale from a single-teacher site to a University with 200,000 students.
Moodle has a very active community involved in the further development of the software and thriving support forums. In addition to the core functionality of Moodle, including wikis, blogs, database, quizzes and learner management, there are a wide range of additional modules (plug ins) that can be uploaded and configured on the main system - for example OU are in the process of developing an e-portfolio for Moodle.
From the Open Source Schools presentation at BETT 2009, slides and commentary by Miles Berry, filmed by Hannah Wise of BBC Backstage, edited by Leon Cych of Learn4Life
WordPress MU (Multi User)
Dale Jones, Twitter's @spookingdorf provides free, ad-free hosting for UK education blogs at ethink.org.uk using WPMU
Wordpress Multiuser (WPMU) is an open source blogging environment. It enables an admin to set up an initial blog and to then allow visitors to the site to create their own blog, using the parent architecture of the original. Alternatively, they can sign up to be a user of the system, without setting up a blog. Once a blog is created, the individual admins can add users to it.
Creating your own WPMU environment
Setting up a WPMU environment is fairly simple. With a simple shared hosting account costing only a few quid (a quid is a British Pound, for all our non-UK readers), you have the facility to install your own WPMU environment. A shared hosting account isn't going to give much flexibility in the way of oomph (you share server resources with all the other domains on the server, although you ought to get a guaranteed level of service). For better server resources (space, memory, CPU cycles ie oomph) you could go for a reseller account which would allow you to host other domains as well as your own but again you are sharing resources on the server. You could rent a Virtual Private Server for your new enterprise if you are feeling really ambitious, or go the whole hog and buy your own dedicated server...all more cost and requiring a higher level of admin skill.
On a CPANEL hosting account there's a cute little auto-installer called Fantastico that will install your own Wordpress for you for a single-user blog. For WPMU you need a bit more skill, to be able to create a database and then install the WPMU files downloaded from mu.wordpress.org. It's way easier than it sounds. Especially the second time you do it.
Things to do
Once your WPMU system is set up, you'll want to add some plugins and themes so that members of your communities can protect and personalise their blogs. Plugins are available from various places including Wordpress. As they say "most Wordpress plugins work with WPMU". There are a few that are useful to Mu users specifically, like MuTags that offers sitewide tags and New Blog Defaults so your users get options set for them to make their blogs less prone to inappropriate use like comment spam. Essential plugins in my opinion would be some to add protection to blogs - Akismet (ask for a key), Bad Behavior and Captcha key are examples of things that will keep the spam at bay. Another useful plugin, depending on what you want to use your WPMU system for, might be the one that makes sure blogs are authorised before they go active. Take that, sploggers.
The Plugin commander allows the SuperAdmin to assign plugins to existing blogs, new blogs, or both and to make them unavailable. This is a really useful recent feature that gives the admin better control over who's doing what and where.
For the end-user
And so there you have it. Your stall's set up ready for those users to come along and claim their free blogs. They will need some guidance in what to expect, and how to respond to comments. For many, communicating on this level will be a new experience and they are likely to need introducing to the pitfalls of a worldwide web presence and the responsibilities that go with it. It has to be said that most find blogging a fulfilling and worthwhile experience, whatever they use the blog for.
That's the tech bit over...
So why create a blog? What might a teacher or a pupil use it for? What value does the blog give to education and, more importantly, to learning? I made this the study of my master's dissertation and set up ethink.org.uk (now hosted on a server
I wanted to explore what directions blogging in a school might take, and learn about the technology in the process. The first forays into creating blogs were tentative but worthwhile; the art department who created podcasts to 'talk about art', where students created podcasts to discuss the masters, and to showcase their own work for worldwide critique; the ICT (and other) departments who created blogs to have conversations with their learners; the podcasted revision notes of the local geographer to his students. There are now a number of schools and education-linked organisations who use their blog as a public face, with the facility for their clientele to feed back by way of comments.
I set up the WPMU environment at eThink.org.uk in 2005 for two reasons; firstly I wanted to see how schools would use blogging and what benefits to learning there would be (it led to my Master’s dissertation although eThink was set up before I realised how interesting a study it made); secondly, my own personal paranoia demanded as many safety features as I could enforce, and that meant I had to own the server the domain sits on.
The most frequent use of blogs over at eThink is for a school to have a quick and easy web presence. Schools use their blog to communicate with parents, pupils and the outside world. Sometimes they introduce new topics for pupils, at others informing the outside world of things that are going on at the school. The blog is used for communication, both outwards and inwards and some great school-parent communities have evolved. Schools use their blogs to let others know what they are doing, and to build their own community of practice, sharing ideas and inspirations. Some have used Gabcast to podcast from mobile phones while on school trips; many use a Flickr plugin to display their school galleries. There has to be a BIG reminder here, though, to keep children safe and keep them anonymous.
Headteacher John Rowe, an early adopter at eThink, suggests
Sometimes ‘less is sometimes more’ in terms of adding work to the blog. Whilst teachers might not want to feel like leaving anyone out, sometimes one example of a piece of children’s work [rather than a classfull] is better, thus ensuring a variety on the blog, and will ensure a regular audience.
I felt that a ‘magazine format’ was highly effective. Indeed, there is scope with such an approach to include children in the editorial process by letting them select pieces of work for the blog.
You might not get the format right first time, but a blog gives you easy tools to change, edit and find out what works best for you.
And on to the next use of a blog. Some teachers use a blog as a Class Blog, giving students privileges to edit and make posts. It's always a good idea to moderate comments and, in this whole-class use, to moderate posts too so that the pupils’ work goes out as you intend. Running a community means having to be responsible for the things they say in your name, sometimes, depending on your policy. Moderating comments isn’t too onerous a task since a notification email is sent to the blog admin when a comment is made.
Adventurous, enlightened (and trusting, it has to be said) teachers might encourage their students to start and administer their own blogs. This has some inherent dangers as it exposes them to the Outside World, and means that any comment spam that gets past the security will end up in their email inbox (there are ways round this - one way is to give them a bogus email address that gets delivered to the teacher's address so the teacher knows about the spam before the pupil does. The teacher needs to be an admin on the pupil’s blog so they can deal with the spam), but it offers a great starting point for developing a sense of e-safety. If the teacher is the WPMU admin, so much the better as they can keep an eye on their charges; if not, they might like to make create RSS feeds into the teacher's blog. Just in case - best to keep an eye on things, eh?
An English department I worked with started individual students' blogs in 2005, initially as a means to develop their creative writing skills. They were given the first paragraph to a story and they would draft and refine new paragraphs each lesson, and do appraisals on each others work. Trackbacks were really useful here and it highlighted the use of a blog as a personal journal, and the benefits of connectedness as pupils improved their stories based on the comments of their peers. Importantly, the teacher commented on how their writing was improving from their own peer review. When this exercise ran its course the students used their blogs to review the books they were reading, making comments on each others' posts to affirm or deny opinions on their fave books. This was a great little community and although the blogs don't exist any more, the children valued having their own web presence and being connected to each other online.
So blogging - love it, hate it, be indifferent but it's out there and signing up for a blog at a free blogging service is certainly a quick way for you, your class or school to get an online presence and make connections. Setting up your own WPMU domain means you stay in control of who has a blog and what is said in your name. For staff and pupils alike, greater exposure in the online medium there is a responsibility to learn to stay safe, for teachers and their pupils. Sooner or later your pupils are going to need to know more about their digital footprint. Setting up your own non-intrusive ad-free WPMU blogging medium might be one way to enlighten them in a way that is controlled by someone who you are sure is concerned for their safety.
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