PART – I CREATING YOUR FIRST BLOG What is a blog; Blogs in Education; Creating Your First Blog, Adding Images; Adding Links, Your Dashboard

A blog is …  A Website  A Diary  A Conversation  A Publication

Why write a blog?  Personal online diary  Place to vent opinions  Place to share information like  Collaborative space  Political ideas and debates  Journalism or breaking-news outlet

Pedagogical Implications of Blogs  Are a constructivist tool for learning  Expand the walls of the classroom  Archive the learning that teachers and students do  Are democratic tools that support different learning styles  Can enhance the development of expertise in a particular subject  Can teach students the new literacies they will need to function in an ever expanding information society As reported in Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts by Will Richardson

CREATING YOUR FIRST BLOG

Open an Internet browser. In the address line, type in

Log-In Using Google Account

Login using your Google Gmail account information.

CREATING YOUR BLOG ACCOUNT

Access the internet and go to Blogger at

Click on the orange arrow to start.

Fill Out Your Account Information You must use an active address. We suggest you use your school account. Your display name is part of your online profile; not your blogs name. You may use a pseudoname.

Fill out the Security and Acceptance of Terms Type in the security word as shown. Check Terms of Service.

Choose a blog title, then check its availability. One has been suggested for you in the list provided. It is a good idea to start the name with “Walker”.

Make sure to fill out the security word. The security word is different for each person; or if you make a mistake and the program asks you to enter your information again.

Chose a template. You will be able to change the template after you have created the blog, if you choose.

You have finished creating your blog. To start your first post, click the orange arrow.

CREATING YOUR FIRST POST

Click on posting and then create. Enter the title of your first post.

Click on compose. If you want to type in plain text, click on “compose”.

Enter the text you want.

Change type characteristics by selecting the text. Change the font type. Change the font size. Change the font style.

Change font color.

Click publish to post your blog.

Click on view blog to see how it looks.

A view of my APES blog.

EDITING YOUR BLOG

Click on customize.

From templates, click on postings.

Click on Edit Posts.

Click on Edit Posts Check the box for the blog of the blog you want to edit, then click “Edit”.

Edit your blog and click publish when finished. You can also save the blog as a draft until you are read to post.

Click on view blog to see how it looks.

ADD PICTURES TO YOUR BLOG

Click on customize.

From templates, click on postings.

Click on Edit Posts.

Add an image to your post. Click on the image tool.

Add an image (cont.) 1) Browse for an image on your computer and click “open” or “save”.

Add an image (cont.) 2) Choose where you want your picture in relation to your text.

Add an image (cont.) 3) Choose an image size.

Add an image (cont.) 4) Check the terms of service box. You should review them.

Add an image (cont.) 5) Click upload image.

Click on view blog to see how it looks.

ADD A LINK TO AN INTERNET SITE

Click on customize.

From templates, click on postings.

Click on Edit Posts.

Linking to resources on the web. 1) Highlight the text you will link.

Link text to a site on the web (cont.). 2) Access the internet. 3) Find the address you want to link. 4) Then toggle back to your blogger site.

Link text to a site on the web (cont.). 5) Choose the link tool. A box will come up for you to enter the address.

Link text to a site on the web (cont.). 6) Copy and paste the address into the URL. 7) Click OK.

Click on view blog to see how it looks.

CHANGE YOUR TEMPLATE

Click on customize.

Change your template. 1) Click on the “template” tab. 2) Click on “Pick a New Template” 3) Choose your template. 4) Save the new template.

Click on view blog to see how it looks.

USING YOUR BLOGGER DASHBOARD

Click on customize.

Use your dashboard to edit your blogs.

Use your dashboard to edit your blogs (cont). Create a new post. Change the layout of your blog.