Thing 2: Blog-o-rama!

Blog-o-rama!

Thing 2: Set up your blog
Now that you have a better idea of what 23 Things is all about, it’s time to set up your very own blog to begin recording your progress and thoughts on the 23 Things. There are several free online blog hosting services including Wordpress & Typepad, but we recommend Blogger, a Google product.

This is a very important Thing. You will record your progress in your blog & others will be reading your blog. Read through all of the instructions!

IMPORTANT NOTE: How you choose to identify yourself on your blog is your choice. You can blog under a screen name, anonymously, or as yourself. Others will be reading, so make your choice based on that information! Be sure to name your blog something creatively 23!

Setup your blog by following these steps:

Creating a blog using Blogger takes just three steps:

  1. Create an account (view screenshot)

  2. Name your blog (view screenshot)

  3. Select your template. (view screenshot)

Once you’ve created your blog here are two important things to know:

  • To add posts: The maintenance interface that you will use to add posts, edit or change the step-up your blog is accessed online at http://www.blogger.com/ Be sure to write down your login and password.

  • To view your blog: Your blog address is http://(xxxx).blogspot.com/, (xxxx)=the unique identifier you entered in Step 2 (there is no www). Be sure to also write down your blog address.

If you run into problems or would like more information about blogs and using Blogger here are some discovery resources you can use:

OK -- Now, it’s your turn...


Discovery Exercise:

  1. Setup a blog for yourself through Blogger.

  2. Add a test post or two.

    Note: Use one of your test posts to create an entry about the habits among the     7 and 1/2 lifelong learning habits that is easiest and hardest for you & why.

  3. Have fun!!!!

Blogger Settings

Be sure that you have enabled comments. We want to comment on your posts, as do others.

1. Under the Settings Tab, click the Comments link. We recommend the second choice under Who Can Comment? Registered Users.

2. If you want to moderate comments (review all comments before they are published) scroll down and turn moderation on.

3. If you want others (up to 10 people) to know when you receive a comment, you can enter their email addresses in the box near the bottom of that page.

Click Save Settings once you are done.

Select your template.

  • The fun part--Blogger has several templates so choose one that fits you. The first Choose Template screen has only a few; choose one. If you want to experiment with other Templates after your blog is set-up, go to Layout and choose Pick New Template. You will see many more choices. Try some; it is easy to see how your blog will look in the different choices.
Hints

  • If you run into problems, check out Blogger's Help file and Tutorial or here’s a MINITEX Blog Tutorial . Another tutorial is here.

  • Be sure to enable comments under Settings on Blogger.

  • Be sure your blog title appears on the masthead of your blog. Go to settings and enter it in the Title box if it does not appear.

  • Spend some time exploring the features of Blogger—spell check, how to upload photos or video, font choices, text size and color, and more!
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Discovery is so much fun!

Have you ever thought, ”Gosh, I wish I had time to learn more about blogs, wikis, or (enter your Web 2.0 tool here)?” Well, this is your chance to take the time to focus on your personal and professional development around Web 2.0 tools. It’s fun to explore these tools and figure out ways to use them in school, with your personal Web sites, or in other ways.

SWC's 23 Things is a twist on the Library Learning 2.0 program developed by Helene Blowers at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County and adopted or adapted by many other libraries (including Minnesota Libraries with 23 Things on a Stick) and organizations since then.Learning 2.0 is online learning program that encourages staff to learn more about emerging technologies on the web that are changing the way people, society and schools access information and communicate with each other.

Over the course of the next nine weeks, this website will highlight “23 Things” and discovery exercises to help staff become familiar with blogging, RSS news feeds, tagging, wikis, podcasting, online applications, and video and image hosting sites.To familiarize yourself with this project, be sure to read the About page. The FAQs should answer most of your questions about this program. If not, then please add your question to the FAQ page as a comment.So fasten your seat belts, grab your mouse and get ready for a discovery adventure… and remember, it's OK to play with technology and have fun!