Kidblog Offers Safe and Simple Interface

The article, Kidblog Offers Safe and Simple Interface by Scott Meech, talks about a website called Kidblog. The website is a way for young students to communicate their ideas in a safe, clean, and simple environment. This website allows for privacy among the students and most importantly, does not collect any personal information from the students or teachers. Not only is the interface easy for a kid to use, but it is also easy to train teachers how to use the website. According to the article, a class of third grade students was able to learn how to blog within two thirty minute class periods. This website is good for kids because it allows them to begin to use technology in a way that is simple to understand. By having a simple website like this, students will not be distracted by all the different tools on the website and can focus on expressing their thoughts like we are doing with our blogs in this class. The ideas in this article express the NETS-S of both creativity and innovation, and communication and collaboration. Through their blogs, children are applying existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes. They are also creating original works as a means of personal or group expression with their blogs through personal thoughts and use of pictures and videos. By using the blogs, students can interact, collaborate, publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media. By being able to add videos and pictures, students can also communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats. At what age is it appropriate to start letting children blog and should this method be encouraged in the classroom? Is our progression into technology at such an early age negatively impacting their penmanship?

Meech, S. (2010). Kidblog offers safe and simple interface. Learning & Leading with Technology, p. 38.