1. LINC Volunteer Course NorQuest College

2. The word “blog” is a short form of “web log.” A blog is an online place for you to share your ideas, thoughts, and opinions. You set up the blog, you decide how it looks, and you control who can read it and who can write on it. There are many blogging sites available, but we will be using Blogger, as you already have a Blogger account with your mynorquest email. Please add me as an author so I can have a dialogue with you about your writing.

3. 1. Log into your mynorquest email account. 2. Click on “More”, then “Blogger” on the drop-down menu

4. 3. Create a Blogger Profile I suggest you create a limited Blogger profile for now; you can always change it later.

5. 4. Choose a name. Please use your own name; this will make things much easier for me, as I will be reading everyone’s blog. You can always change things later. You can add a picture if you like. 5. Then click on “Continue to Blogger”.

6. 5. Now you’re ready to click on “new blog” You should already show up as an author on the LINC Volunteer Course blog.

7. 6. Choose a title. Please choose a professional- sounding title: My volunteer experiences My online journal Learning and volunteering Volunteering in LINC 7. Choose a web address. You cannot have any spaces in your web address. Every blog must have a unique URL. You may have to try a few different web addresses before you find one that works. See some examples on the next page.

8. You may have to try several times before you find an available web address. You may see the message “ Sorry, this blog address is not available.” 8. Choose a template. You can change your template later if you want. 9. Click on “Create Blog”

9. 10. Now you’re ready to write! You will be using your blog as an online journal.

10. 12. Each post should be a well-written paragraph. Use the spell-check tool! You will be choosing your best journal entries for your online portfolio later in the term. 11. Every post should have a short, relevant title. 13. Once you’ve proof- read and edited your work, you can publish! Here’s where you’ll find the spell check tool.

11. 14. Click on settings.

12. 15. Make your blog invisible to search engines by changing the settings under “Privacy”. Choose “no” for both questions. 16. Add Heidi as an author. Please use my mynorquest email address: hschlack702@mynorquest.ca 17. Make your blog visible only to blog authors. This means that only you and I will be able to see and read your blog (unless you choose to add someone else). Your blog will be a private online journal. I will reply to what you write, and offer some suggestions to improve your writing.

13.  This is your blog; you can choose to invite anyone you choose to read your blog; however, I suggest that you not make your blog public.  I will post a writing assignment or some questions for you to write about every week.  Everyone in our class can continue to read our class blog, and make posts and add comments on it.class blog  Have fun with your blog!