Scoilnet Blogging Service

Scoilnet, an NCTE initiative are providing Irish schools with Blog hosting.  I tested it out at the excellent CESI conference this year and I must admit, Scoilnet have got it right.
Scoilnet’s blog hosting is based on WordPress 2.7, the same platform as Anseo.net and any of the web sites I’ve recently developed, so perhaps I’m slightly biased.  However, after giving an hour long workshop on this blogging platform to 20 people, I think the vast majority of them will be signing up.
Scoilnet provide a similar service to Edublogs.org but without the new restrictions, Edublogs have sadly decided are necessary.  There is a selection of 106 themes and Tom Lonergan, the head guy, advised participants that if they want more, he’ll make sure there’s more.
There is also the ability to podcast, videocast, add slideshows and add image galleries easily and effectively.  Again, Lonergan said that more features can be added on request.  My request is a translator tool plugin that I use on my school’s web site.
NCTE will be providing training on Blogging and I hope this comes onstream very fast, but in the meantime, WordPress.tv will coach any potential blogger very well.
Overall, the NCTE have got this project absolutely right. I hope people will use it and throw away their WebsiteX5 dinosaurs!  Blogging is far easier and much more effective than static web design for a primary school.  Try it and you’ll never go back!