Communication Tool Evaluation Task: Kidblog

Kidblog

http://kidblog.org/home/#why-kidblog

Rubric for Assessing Communication Tools

Kristen Cosgrove and Geoff Cyr

#umfedu568

	Does not Meet	Meets	Exceeds
Technology Details
Compatibility		Service or Application is browser/operating system agnostic (e.g., can be used in multiple Internet browsers, and/or on desktop and mobile devices).
Cost		Service is available at little-to-no cost for teachers and schools, AND/OR offers free trials of services to classrooms and schools with available educational discounts for purchase.  Additional features can be purchased outside of in-app purchase system for mobile devices.
Marketing		Service does not contain any advertisements or marketing.
User Safety and Privacy
COPPA Compliance		Service is COPPA-compliant and proof is prominently displayed on the developers’ website AND/OR Developer is a signatory to the Student Privacy Pledge
Controlled Content Sharing		Teacher is able to control level that students’ content is shared at (e.g., classroom-level, other people by invitation, open to public, etc.)
Content Monitoring		Teacher can monitor, filter, and approve student content to platform and comments from others
Appropriate Content		Built-in controls prevent users from stumbling--intentionally or unintentionally--on inappropriate content
User-Friendliness - Students
Use of Multimedia		Students can create, upload, and share content from multiple sources of media (text, images, audio, video, hyperlinks, etc.)
Navigation		Navigation is simple and obvious enough for all users understand
Saving and Revision History		Service saves users’ work automatically, while also maintaining a log or history of changes made by users over time
User-Friendliness - Teachers
Classroom- Level Accounts		Service creates a master account for teachers that connects to and allows teachers to monitor student accounts
Setup		Service can be set up by teachers with minimal assistance needed
Account Creation		Student accounts are created by the teacher or school, or can easily be setup by students using a class code, AND/OR students can create accounts using a common third-party service, like a student Google account
Accessibility
Design and Layout		Service uses large text or multimedia elements that allow for younger students and students who struggle with reading to navigate the page, app, or service
Accessibility Features		Service integrates accessibility features designed to help users with physical or developmental disabilities to use the product.

	Does not Meet	Meets	Exceeds	Comments
Technology Details
Compatibility				Kidblog can be accessed through a web browser on a computer,or using the browser on a mobile device.
Cost				It costs $36 a year for each teacher.  They do provide a 1 month free trial.
Marketing				Does not have adds on their site
User Safety and Privacy
COPPA Compliance				yes
Controlled Content Sharing				Teacher control what is posted on the classroom page and the individual blogs
Content Monitoring				Teachers are able to keep track of all of the students activity on their blogs
Appropriate Content				Teacher control what is posted on the classroom page and the individual blogs
User-Friendliness – Students
Use of Multimedia				Kidblog allows users to post drawing, Google Documents, Videos and presentations.
Navigation				Navigation is kid friendly
Saving and Revision History				There is a show revisions feature that shows past work on a blog writing piece
User-Friendliness - Teachers
Classroom- Level Accounts				There are setting that allow the teacher access to students portfolio.
Setup
Account Creation				Signing into and setting up account can be linked to student school google account
Accessibility
Design and Layout				I did not find any information on ways to make fonts bigger for younger students.
Accessibility Features				I did not see any setting that could be adjusted to accommodate students with disabilities.

Additional Notes:

Features that it has:

• ·         Can be used to set up pen pals for students with classrooms in other countries.
• ·         Setting so that keep post from being made public till teacher looks at and approves them.
• ·         Students are able to use themes to personalize their blog page
• ·         Can link to google drive

How it could be used in the classroom:

I would use Kidblog to help students share their writing with their peers and to practice giving and getting feedback to improve writing.  I would also use the feature that allows for global pen pals.