Manaiakalani - Share in secondary schools

What does blogging look like at secondary school?

Blogging at high school is an integral part of developing students understanding for how to interact online positively. It's about being Cybersmart. Creating authentic learning environments either through a class blog or individual student blog, gives learners real world experience in a dynamic interface and allows them to Share their learning.

Our research shows students who publish their writing regularly (3 times a week) have significant improvement outcomes.

Furthermore, developing the confidence to express themselves and have a voice online prepares them for their professional lives, not to mention the valuable skills associated with creating material for a global audience.

Are you blogging with your students already? If you are let us know and submit some of their work for a Secondary Tohatoha Badge. If you're not and would like to give it a try contact your local facilitator or Kerry Boyde-Preece and we'll help you get up and running.

Class blogs at high school

Subject and junior class blogs can be a useful tool for teachers in a variety of ways. There are lots of avenues to explore for gathering student voice and understanding. A class blog also provides the ideal platform for students to practice being Cybersmart in an authentic learning environment.

In years 9 and 10 when students are often in the same core subject classes, teachers can be all be added to as authors to the form class blog. Teachers can then use the blog during class time to give a provocation for students to respond to. Alternatively, it could be an opportunity to recap on a lesson or topic. Each student replies to the teacher's blog post. The class blog gives visibility for that form class showing what students are learning across all their subjects, great for co-construction meetings and sharing with parents. It's an ideal place to have year level competitions too.

In senior high school, it's more preferrable to have a subject blog. Take a look at the Level 1 PHE Class blog at Bay of Islands College. Ruth Hills, the HoD of PE and Health at the college is finding students' writing significantly improved which aided students with their NCEA written assessments.

Visit the class blog of

1 PHE @ Bay of Islands College

Visit the class blog of

10K @ Bay of Islands College

Individual student blogs

Here's a small sample of some of the fantastic writing high school students are publishing to their blog. Regular blogging with students is empowering, helping them express their ideas and allows them to share their learning with a global audience. Take the time to visit their blog and maybe even leave them a positive, thoughtful, helpful comment.

If you are interested in trying blogging with your students, talk to your Manaiakalani facilitator about how to get started.