@Claire Thompson thanks for providing @akelly77 excellent instructions for how to link other blogs with their blog.

@akelly77 did you require any further information?

1. Sue has great directions on using the ‘Blogroll’ feature of Edublogs.

2. The ‘Links’ widget. It allows you to generate a list of sites that you can link to. I’ve found that this widget doesn’t work in all themes though.

3. Use the ‘Text’ widget. Using this can be a bit time consuming though as you have to write in the HTML code for all of your links. Sue has a great post called Creating Hyperlinks Using HTML that I’ve found extremely helpful, even if you don’t use it in this situation.

4. If you use Google Reader you can create a blogroll to either go in one of your sidebars or on a separate page. I used to have my blogroll in the sidebar, but I now have it in a separate page; see here. Again, Sue has a great post on how to use Google Reader to create your blogroll.

Hope this all helps, and good luck!

Much of the structure and approach I’ve taken was inspired through the tutorials and comment streams via Edublogs. I’ve essentially set my role as moderator for my students and am currently trying to inspire greater collaboration.

Since commencing blogs, I’ve established a focus on digital content. My students are encouraged to add pretty much what they like. Anything they think would be worth adding… digitised copies of their work, links to other sites, ‘About Me’ sections etc. The idea is that they seek social comment regarding academic interest through their own blog (a sense of ownership). Needless to say, all design elements become their choice and may aspects of curriculum are addressed in a contemporary and exciting manner. Most pupils love blogging.

Enter Web 2.0, the social network. Now that I’ve come to understand the implications, I sought to explore blogging further. I’m now involved with the DET Web 2.0 Innovations and Excellence Department’s project in developing Web 2.0 implementations for Victoria (and beyond). This is happening in the Knowledge Bank:Next Generation branch.

My particular focus is on blogging in the classroom context. I’m exploring cyber safe issues and ideal blogging tools for classroom bloggers.

Much of the work will go to development i.e. We’re looking at the total package. My role is part of the picture (typical of a software design… maybe one object/class for developing ideal blogging tools etc). Needless to say, Edublogs, Global Teacher and Wordpress are great platforms.

I,ve 2 blogs essentially. My first is the class blog. My second is my research blog. The research blog seeks input from teachers… ideas and issues for discussion. These points would then form part of requirements suggest to the developers.

The whole blogging experience has taken me from point to place rapidly. It’s been terrific both as a teacher/researcher and for my students. Please check my sites and drop in a comment or two.

http://altan.edublogs.org

http://www.kbng.net/ar/

Regards,
Altan