Tools of the Trade

There are many blogging tools and services out there to meet a variety of needs. Some require more technical know-how than others, but they all provide generally the same functions. Be sure to choose the service that works best for you. Today, we'll look at two main categories of blogging services. The first set includes tools that anyone can use. They provide a high level of functionality and versatility. All the things an educator could want in a blogging tool are available and more.

The following are the big players in the blogging game:

Wordpress (com/org) - WordPress comes in two forms. The first can be found at their .com address and provides hosting as well as a community of bloggers all over the globe. What makes WordPress unique is the fact that its software can be downloaded for free for those who may want to host their own blog on their work or home servers. WordPress software is highly adaptable and could be used to create a webpage that does more than the typical blog.

Blogger - Blogger is Google's blogging service. There has been talk of merging Blogger with Google+ or possibly changing the name, but as of this moment, Blogger remains Blogger. Like WordPress, Blogger offers an impressive amount of functionality. Blogger's interface is simpler and easier to navigate than WordPress's, but the service doesn't offer as many features. That said, being a Google App means that it interacts well with other Google tools and works with your existing Google account.

Tumblr - Tumblr is a cross between micro (Twitter) and macro blogging (Blogger, WordPress). It's a tool that provides instant gratification and allows other Tumbr users to follow each other and share. Tumblr lacks a bit as a traditional online publishing method, but it more than makes up for that with immediacy.

Others:

• Weebly Education - Is it a website? Is it a blog? It's both!
• TypePad
• Live Journal
• Moodle - Within Moodle, there are multiple ways to blog, but a portal really limits one's audience.

The second group provide nearly as many features as the services listed above. However, due to their main purpose of providing safety for schools and students, they have some limitations. Privacy in the services above can be set at various levels comparable to the services below, but it is not by default.

21 Classes - There are options for teacher, students, and schools to use this tool with some costing a premium.

KidBlog.org - KidBlog provides safe and simple blogging for students. All you need is proof that you work for a school and you're off and running.

Class Chatter - The always popular free service for classroom blogging.

Edublogs - The largest community of educational bloggers is located at Edublogs. This community used WordPress as their primary software.

Gaggle - Gaggle offers many safe ways to electronically communicate, including blogging.

As you can see, there are many options when choosing a blogging service. The important part is finding a service that fits your needs. Personally, I have found that services such as Blogger and WordPress offer as much privacy as the school-centric services; it just requires some work on the administrator's part. That said, if maintaining student privacy is hugely important to you, the second set of services provide such protection without much thought on the administrator's part.