You have now had an opportunity to read and experience a blog. It is now your turn to set up a blog of your own. It is through your blog that you will continue on this journey. Watch this Common Craft video that explains Blogs in plain English.
**If you participated in Spring Branch’s Library2Play – 23 Things last summer you may use the blog you started for that. No sense reinventing the wheel. BISD’s technology department assures us that these blogs will be unblocked this summer and you will be able to use them next year in your classes/libraries.
If you have never created a blog before, let’s start at the beginning. What is a blog? Check out the Atomic Learning tutorial on blogging.
- Blogging Workshop
- A. Blogging Basics
- A. Blogging Basics
Further down in this Atomic Learning tutorial is an explanation on setting up a Blogger blog.
Setting up a Blogger blog:You will need to create your Google account before you create your Blogger site. DO NOT use a gmail account.
Go to www.google.com
In the top right corner click on Sign in
In the middle of the right side you will see Don't have a google account, create one now. Click there.
Follow the directions to create your Google account
Even if you have a Google account, create a new one with your BISD email address.
1. Create a Blogger account. You do not need a gmail account. Use your BISD email and password. (You will also use this when you create all your Google accounts in week 3. We recommend that you use the same email account for everything during this journey.
2. Name your blog. The portion that goes into the address is "permanent." It can not be changed once set up. The blog title that appears on the actual page can be changed or updated to meet the needs of your blog. A good rule of thumb...short and sweet and easy to type!
3. Choose a template (or skin.) You can always go back and select another one if you don't care for the look of your blog.
4. Click on the Settings tab, click on Formatting, scroll about 1/2 way down and change the time zone to Central Time. Scroll all the way down and SAVE settings
5. On the Settings tab, click on Commenting, click the radio button next to Anyone in the Who can Comment section. Scroll all the way down and SAVE settings.
When setting up your preferences, please allow for comments by anyone. You CAN set it up where you have to approve them before they show.|
Setting up an Edublog: I do not recomend this type of blog due to the many advertisements and popups!
Go to Edublog.org. Click on the Free version. Choose your user name and add your BISD email address. Click “gimmie a blog” and away you go! You will be sent an email link to continue the set up process.
For more information on setting up your blog check out the Edublog Tutorial. – Click on Setting up your Blog.
***One thing to remember is that once you create a name for your blog and your blog URL you can not change it. You might want to give this one some thought since you will be using it in your classroom/library.
Be sure to go into the settings in your Edublog and make sure that you all other people to comment and that you choose the correct time zone.
Create a VokiVoki is a free service that allows you to create personalized speaking avatars and use them on your blog, profile, and in email messages.
It adds personalization to your blog.
Click on Create at the top of the page. You can create a user name and password to create your Voki, but you do not have to. If you do use your BISD email and password.
To Add your Voki to your blog:
Edublogs – View this tutorial on how to add a Voki to your blog.
Blogger – Under the Layout tab – add a gadget, an html tool. Copy and paste the code for you Voki . Click save and then preview.
Register and set sail - (To be officially registered you must have posts written for Week 1 and Week 2.)
If you’ve made it this far, you already have 2 weeks completed on our Journey through Technology. We hope you are enjoying the adventure so far and having fun. Remember to share with colleagues your knowledge or experiences.
But now we need to take care of a couple of housekeeping chores so that you can continue to play:|
1. Now that your blog is created AND you have blogged about Week 1 and 2 in YOUR blog (not comment boxes) and created you avatar, you MUST register your blog with the Set Sail Team.
Email mgriffith@brazosportisd.net with:
1. Blog name/title of your blog,.
2. Your name and your name as you are known in your blog--YOUR blog identity.
AND
3. Your blog address which will look like
Edublogs – yourblogname.edublogs.org or Blogger – yourblogname.blogspot.com
Until you do this, you are not officially a player and are not eligible for credit or certificate.
Remember:
You must record your progress on each of the Week’s activities on your blog. Clearly identify each Week’s activities in the title of your entries. Each Week’s activities need to be written in a separate blog posting. Please do not combine weeks.
******IMPORTANT
Until you contact mgriffith@brazosportisd.net you are not officially playing and will not receive credit. The Captain MUST receive your information for you to be added to the Ship's roster. You will also receive an official "welcome" email to indicate that you are registered.
Just think, now there’s only 7 more weeks to go!
Activities:
1. Set up your personal Blog use either Blogger or Edublog
2. Go back to Week 1 and create a new blog post about what 21st Century Skill are and how they can be applied in our classrooms/libraries. Write a post for Week 2 with your thoughts on setting up the blog. Please include the week number in the title of your blog posts.
3. Add a Voki to your blog
4. Register your blog,
