Blogging




Blog

After you have created your blog please comment on your experience in creating a blog.  In addition, explain how you will use a blog in your classroom.

 It is recommendable to have a Gmail or Google Account first in order to create a blog.

Steps to get your Gmail

1.    Go to www.gmail.com
2.    Fill out your information make sure to write it down in a book or in a place that you can save it for future reference
3.    Click on Create your account
4.    Fill out your information make sure to complete all requirements


Steps to get to sign into Google Account
1.    Got to your Google chrome icon on your desktop at the bottom on your icon task bar to open your browser
2.    Then type www.google.com.ag in your address bar/ location bar/ URL bar at the top of your page
3.    Click on the blue rectangle at the top right hand corner to Sign In
4.    If you already have a Gmail or Google Account Sign in with your password



Steps to create your blog

1.    Go to www.blogger.com
2.    On the top left hand side click on New Blog
3.    Type the name (title) of your blog
4.    Type in a URL address that will be associated with the name of your blog
5.    If it is not available numbers (like the year) may be used to make it available

New Blog


6.    Select a template
7.    Then click on Create Blog


8.    Once you have selected a template you can customize the look of your blog


9.    Click on customize and adjust each aspect: background, width, layout, etc.
10. When finished adjusting always ensure to click on Apply to blog


Steps to create a post on your blog

1.    Select posts from your more options dropdown menu or left hand side visible menu
2.    Click on New post

Posts


3.    Type in the title of your post
4.    Compose what information you want the post to be about on the page
5.    Click on Options to ensure that reader comments are on Allow then click Done
6.    Click on Save, Preview, exit the preview page by x on the top right hand corner and then back on post page click Publish
7.    Click on close to exit
8.    Click on view blog to see published page
9.    Note that once Post is selected and not pages the post will be made automatically on the first page or the initial home page that the blog was created with
10. Posts can be added to pages, go to pages and edit a post on each page after they have been created


Steps to create a new page on your blog

 1. Go to the blog dashboard that you want to create page on
2. Click on pages from your more options dropdown menu or left hand side visible menu once you are already working on the blog

Click on New page you may see a different set up of pages if you are creating pages for the first time than if you already have pages and then you are creating a new page.

 Pages



  1. Name the page in the page title box
  2. Type or compose what you want to share on the page for others to read and comment on
  3. On the top right hand corner click Save, Preview, exit the preview page by x on the top right hand corner then click Publish

  1. It will take you right back to pages
8.    At the top click on Show pages as drop down menu select how you want the pages to appear on the blog e.g. as top tabs or side links
9.    Remember to always then go to the top right hand corner and click on Save Arrangement that is to save all changes you made to your pages, in this case was that of creating a new page
10. Then click on View Blog to see the New page on the actual blog
11. Note that perhaps after the first time using the blog to set up a new page may appear different. However, create your new page using steps 4, 5 an 6 and make sure to click on Publish

Steps to post a comment
1.    Ensure that you are signed into the blog
2.    Scroll down to the Post on the Page that you want to comment on
3.    By the comments section click on no comments or comments

Comments

4.    Post a comment by typing in the box provided and clicking Preview if need be then Publish
5.    Once published you will see your published comment



Steps to invite persons to your blog

1.    From your Dashboard go to the blog you intend to invite persons to
2.    Click on the more options drop down menu and select settings or left hand side visible menu once you are already working on the blog click on settings




3.    Under Permissions Blog Authors click on +Add authors type in the name of each individuals Gmail using a comma to separate the email addresses, in the box provided.
4.    When finished click on Invite authors

5.    Each person will then need to go to their Gmail and open the email with the invitation to the blog. After accepting the invitation they will be able to read and post comments on the blog. E.g.


Steps to insert a video on your blog

1.    Go to the page on your blog where you want to insert the video

2. Click on Edit to Edit   
3. Click on the Insert video icon


4.    Click on Choose a video to upload


5.    Allow it to upload it may take a few minutes depending on the size of the video
6.    Click Save, Update or Publish, whichever one shows up, you can also preview before clicking Publish


7.    View your blog after clicking on Publish
8.    Go to the page with the video to play the video
9.    Wait a few seconds for the video to appear press play and wait a few seconds for it to play


Steps to create link list on your blog
  1. Go to the name of your blog dashboard that you want to create links on
  2. Go to the dropdown menu more options or left hand side visible menu once you are already working on the blog
  3. Click on layout

  1. It will take you to how your blog layout is designed
  2. Depending on your template design you selected from the beginning when you created your blog your layout may look different to someone else’s, however choose the most appropriate position to select the add a gadget

  1. For example go to your right hand side of the layout and click on Add a Gadget
  2. Scroll down until you find Link List which will display on your blog a collection of your favourite sites, blogs, web pages, etc.

  1. A configure link list box will pop-up, minimise it. It will be in your icon task bar.
  2. Go to your Google the website you want to share with others on your blog
  3. Copy the link of the URL address and paste it in the New Site URL box in the Configure Link List box which will automatically always go to your icon taskbar at the bottom of your screen, you will need to maximise it in order to paste each URL address (Note: URL addresses can only be put in and saved one at a time)
  4. In the Title box you may name it Link Lists and in the New Site Name box you may name it The Name of the Site or the name you want to use for it
  5. Click on Add Link for each Address of a website (Note: Each Address can only be put in and saved one at a time) and then click on Save only after adding all

13. You will see the website under the Add Link section in the pop—up box with the words Edit Delete and two arrows
14. Click on Save and it will take you back to the pages Layout

15. Click on Save Arrangement you may Preview before Saving the Arrangement of the page layout

16. Click on View Blog to see the Links List Made on the actual blog


Steps to create blog list on your blog

  1. Go to the name of your blog dashboard that you want to create blog list on
  2. Go to the dropdown menu more options or left hand side visible menu once you are already working on the blog
  3. Click on layout
  4. It will take you to how your blog layout is designed
  5. For example go to your right hand side of the layout and click on Add a Gadget
  6. Scroll down until you find Blog List which will display on your blog your favourite blogs in this case your classmates blogs

  1. A configure link list box will pop-up, minimise it and go to your Google Drive click on your Apps icon and  your menu options bar will appear click Drive or
  2. Type in your URL bar https://drive.google.com

  1. In your Drive click on the spreadsheet that you created with your classmates addresses

  1. Maximise the Configure Blog List box which you had minimise to the icon taskbar at bottom of your screen

  1. Click on Add a Blog to your list a pop-up box will come up then copy the link for each classmate address and paste it in the Add by URL box
  2. Then click on Add
  3. Keep adding classmates addresses until all are added (Note: Each Address can only be put in and saved one at a time)

  1. When you click Add It will take you back to your Blogger Layout and on your right hand side you will see it under where you had initially clicked on Add a Gadget
  2. Then on the layout at the top right hand corner click on Save Arrangement to save all changes you made to your layout, in this case was that of creating a Blog List
  3. You can even make changes to the location of the Blog List by dragging it where ever you want it to be on the page for better organization in terms of how it will look when you view your blog
  4. Again because you made changes to the layout at the top right hand corner click on Save Arrangement
  5. Then click on View Blog to see the Blog List on the actual blog


Steps to get to blogger from Google

1.    At the top right hand corner click on the Apps icon

2.    Click on More at the bottom of pop-up Menu box


3.    Click on Blogger
4.    It will take you straight to your Blogger dashboard


Steps to get to blogger form your Gmail

1.    If you are on your Google Navigation page and already signed into Google Account click on Gmail in your top right hand corner


2.    If already signed into your Gmail click on click on More at the bottom of pop-up Menu box, then Blogger


4 comments:

  1. Sharon N SimonSeptember 1, 2014 at 7:25 PM

    I have used this for a short period during a summer course and never got to utilize it in the class after. It can be used for instance between students to collaborate on an assignment in real time. have discussions and even seek help from a peer that is more knowledgeable of a particular topic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terry-Ann MarshSeptember 6, 2014 at 3:27 AM

      Dear Sharon,

      We do hope that after this course you will use a blog more often.

      Keep on blogging!!!

      Delete
  2. UnknownSeptember 6, 2014 at 1:43 PM

    I have completed the creation of my blog and have found the experience to be very troublesome in certain aspects. I definitely had a bit of trouble with the 'Pages' and 'Adding Authors' aspect of the assignment. But with a bit of determination and a little attention to detail, I was able to get it done. Creating the blog on a whole was very interesting and definitely a learning experience for me.

    Even though I am not an English Language teacher, I can definitely see how the utilization of blogging can help to enhance the writing skills of students. It can also be used for instruction, student collaboration on projects, topics and other assignments. Blogging is also a great way to communicate useful classroom information, announcements, and discovery learning. It's also a great medium for a teacher to share resources and to keep students engaged even outside the context of a formal classroom. I can definitely see myself utilizing it with my students. It's great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terry-Ann MarshSeptember 7, 2014 at 4:39 AM

      Thank you for sharing how you will utilize a blog in your classroom. I hope with more practice in using and creating blogs that the experience will become less troublesome.

      Keep on blogging!

      Delete

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