Terry Elliot left a comment on a previous post that for some reason isn’t linked:
Maybe adopt a buddy/mentor for at least first week of weblogging. Get established webloggers to give some time to set number of students just to pump that adolescent ego for the first week or so of weblogging. At least they will know they aren’t just pumping words into dead air (I know you will be reading it, but as we both know teachers don’t count as audience.)
What a great idea! I’ve been so hell bent on getting journalism mentors that the idea of a blog buddy went under the radar. So, class starts on November 10. I have 20 or so students. Anyone interested in introducing the fine art of Web logging to a high school journalism student or two?
Yeah, I’ll do it.
Please do not allow just anyone who reads your post to start writing to and blogging with these students. You have no idea who you are introducing them to, which is pretty irresponsible and which could result in many very serious problems. “Blog buddies” is a good idea, but you should actually know whom you are dealing with.
I know this. I’ve been vetting online mentors for my students for many years. Rest assured that I nor any of the other edubloggers who have been doing this for some time would never put kids at risk like that.
You can count me in, Will. It would be a wonderful learning experience for me!
I’ll sign up too if you can specify what you expect. I know nothing of journalism besides reading newspapers and watching movies 😉
I do, by the way, have a masters in teaching English from Brown, although that may not always be evident.