Blog Safety

Blogging can be very fun is done safely.  There are a few important things to remember when blogging to keep yourself or your students safe:

• Only post your first name.  Never place your last name, address, phone number(s), or any other personal information on your blog.  
• Limit settings so only the people you would like to see certain information can see it.  Limiting the amount of information known to everyone will help keep you safe.
• Don't place pictures of yourself on your page.

As a teacher there are a few things to do to keep your students safe:

• Monitor your students use.  When they are blogging in the classroom watch over them.  You don't have to stand over their shoulder the whole time but do check on them every so often.
• Do not place pictures of your students on the internet.  If you do, set privacy settings so only certain people have access to the photos.
• Again, if you place a class calendar on your blog page set the privacy settings so only a limited group have access to it. 
• Check your students blog pages often to monitor and check for anything that doesn't seem right.
• Inform parents of the blogging tool.  Possibly set up a night to teach parents how to blog and what they can do to keep their child safe.  If blogging is taking place at home send a schedule home as to when their child needs to blog.  This way they can also monitor what their child is writing and doing while blogging.