Blogging

=Introduction to Blogging- Cromwell College=


 * What is a Blog?**

A blog is short for a Web Log and the best way to describe it is to consider a Captain's log on a ship. Each time the captain writes a new entry, the book is kept open at this page. Entries are arranged in order according to the date they were written.

A blog is the same. The top post displayed will always be the most recent one and all other posts are organised in order according to the date they were posted


 * What does this mean?**

This means we have to consider whether a blog is the best tool for the information we want to share, or would another tool (e.g. a wiki) be better. We can add 'tags' to our posts so that particular subjects can be searched for, but posts will always be organised by date.


 * Getting Started**

For the purpose of these workshops, we are focusing on using Blogger. This is a particularly easy format to use for both teachers and students alike, and you can use your Google account to sign in (you do need a Google account to access Blogger)

Before you get started, especially if this is your first Blog, take a tour of Blogger (by clicking on the word 'tour' which is hyperlinked) to find out more about it, then you can find out if a Blog is the right tool for you!


 * Then you need to consider what the focus will be for your blog, what you want to call it, who your audience will be, by considering these things before getting started, you can make sure your pre thinking assists you while setting up.**

For a PDF guide on how to set up a Blogger Account using your gmail account- Please Click here

For a Screencast showing you how to get started, Check out the video using This Link or view the video below

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Blogger has a comprehensive HELP menu giving assistance for almost anything you want to do in Blogger.


 * Now what?**

Now that you have a Blogger account and you have created a blog, it is time to make your first post and to consider the design and layout of your blog

View the video Below to help you to write your first post

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Also have a look at this Blog Post giving ideas for writing a Blog post in 10 minutes

First of all, have a look at this Link to help you to consider what your options are

Watch the Video below to think about 'How you can add use the Blogger Template Designer' to change the way your Blog looks

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 * Adding Links on Blogger**

If we want to include links on Blog Posts so viewers can quickly go to the websites you recommend or talk about, we can do this easily on Blogger.

Check out this link for a step by step guide to adding links


 * Embedding Video**

To save viewers always having to go to different pages from your Blog, you may like to embed a video so that it sits within your blog. To learn how to do this, watch the video below (which i have embedded)

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To ask me to follow up anything linked to today's session- Please add your requests to the Wallwisher below

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