What is a blog? Why student blogging?

Blogging Options in Canvas

Native Tool Explanation	External Tool Explanation
Canvas does not include native tools to create and administer student blogs. However, instructors may choose to use the built-in discussion board Canvas tool to simulate a blog-like environment for students.	Through the use of embed code and iFrames , instructors may choose to use embed student blogs from an outside source into a Canvas page. A third-party tool such as Blogspot or Tumblr is used to host student blogs, then a blog aggregator such as Inoreaer is used to "collect' student blogs and present them within a Canvas page.
PRO -- Benefits of using the Canvas discussion tool for blogs	PRO -- Benefits of using third party tools for blogs
Easier setup for faculty. No third party app to learn, use, and teach to students. -- No need to support students in using a third party tool. Administrative rights over blog content -- Faculty will retain owner access to student work. Speedgrader integration	Students can truly make it their own -- Design: colors, style, etc. Lives after course -- Students can reference their work and/or continue to contribute to their blog even after the course is over. This could make it more authentic and meaningful to the students. Unique -- Blogging will be less confusing because it won't look like a Canvas discussion board.
CON -- Setbacks for using the Canvas discussion tool for blogs	CON -- Setbacks for using third party tools for blogs
Less customization and features -- It's a discussion board, so it looks like a discussion board. Students lose access when the course is over (unless they save the content externally). Could be confusing to students when trying to use the same platform for blogs and/or journals and/or discussions.	Learning curve for faculty and students. Integrating third party tools -- training and supporting students in the creation of their blogs goes BEYOND Canvas support. Faculty does not retain owner access of the student work. Faculty can remove posts from course feed, but cannot directly edit/remove a student post from the web. Speedgrader integration is NOT automatic (but there is a work around!)
Native How-To Instructions	External How-To Instructions
Creating Your Blog (Tutorial) This is a very basic step by step guide on setting up "blog" discussion boards for your students. Students can blog to their assigned board and other students may read/comment to their peers. Sharing Student Stories: Blogging & Journaling in Canvas Discussion and explanation of setting up a discussion board for either journaling (individual student and instructors can see) OR blogging (visible to everyone).	Lauren Gibb's blog on blogging in Canvas (instructions on set up and her personal experience using the tools) She discovered and recorded the steps necessary to use an external tool for student blogs and embed the student posts within a Canvas page. She also blogged her about her experience. See her shared student blogs in the examples below. Student creating blogs and aggregating their feeds into Inoreader (instructions) Instructions on collecting student blog posts into Inoreader for easy instructor access. Embedding Inoreader feed into Canvas (instructions) Instructions on embedding Inoreader feed in Canvas in order to share/publish student blogs in Canvas.
Native Example	External Examples
Canvas Discussion Example An example of what student blogs (visible to everyone) using the native set up would appear in your course.	Blogspot/Inoreader Feed (Gibbs' Example) Tumblr/Inoreader Feed More Gibbs examples within her Canvas courses: https://canvas.ou.edu/courses/97417/pages/blog-stream https://canvas.ou.edu/courses/97425/pages/blog-stream