Create Your Blog
From WVWiki
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Topic Assignments
Set Up a Blog Account
Step 1: Login to your Gmail Account
- Remember to always login to Google at the beginning of every Globaloria class!
Step 2: Go to www.blogger.com
Click on the orange button that says "CREATE A BLOG".
Step 2: Enter Your Information
- Because you are already logged in to Gmail, Blogger will know your e-mail and name. You will be asked to choose a DISPLAY name. This name will be your Globaloria Blog ID: [FirstName]_[last 4 digets of WVEIS#] (ex. Rachel_3745). On this screen you'll be asked to give an email address and password (you will use these each time you want to login to your blog).
- Accept the terms of service and continue.
Step 4: Name the Blog
- You can have fun with your blog name, but make sure you do not use your last name or last initial in the blog title. Something like "Rachel's Globaloria Experience" is perfect.
- Your blog URL must be the same as your Display Name, but without the underscore. That means it follows this convention: [FirstNameWVEIS#], ex: Rachel3745.
Step 5: Choose a Template
Next, choose a style template for your blog. You can always change the style, so select any template for now.
Step 6: Start Blogging
Your blog has now been created. Click on the orange arrow to start blogging.
Create Your First Blog Entry
Step 1: Write and Post Your Entry
- Title. Give the blog entry a title that will help people know what you're writing about.
- Blog content. For your very first blog entry, write about what you hope to do in the Globaloria course. What kind of game will you make? What are you most excited or scared about?
- Keywords. You can type in keywords like "game, Flash, West Virginia"". This will help people looking for blogs on those topics to find your blog.
- Publish. Click "Publish Post" to publish. Click "Save" if you want to keep a draft version but not publish it yet.
Step 2: Confirmation
Congratulations, you're a blogger! The confirmation screen let's you know that what you have just written has now been published to the internet. Now you can view your blog, create another entry, or edit the current entry.
View Your Blog
Step 1: View the Blog Homepage
Below is a sample blog to demonstrate what your blog may look like.
- Blog Title: This was the title you gave the blog page in step 3 of Create Account.
- Posting Date: This shows when you posted and any and all postings you have done on that date.
- The Post: This is the post you just wrote. It also includes the author's name if more than one person are able to write to that post. This also includes the time the post was written.
- Labels: The labels (keywords) you created for the blog post are now links. If you click on one of the words, it will then show you all blog postings that share that label.
- Followers: Here, your readers can "follow" you to see your blog appear in their dashboard.
- Archive: The Archive lists all of your blog entries. People who visit your blog can see what has been posted and when.
- About Me: Here people can see your Blogger profile. (Filling in the profile is optional.)
Managing your Settings
It is extremely important you follow these steps to make the nuts and bolts of your Blog run smoothly throughout your Globaloria experience.
Step 1: Access Settings
- Visit your Blogger Dashboard. You can always access your dashboard by clicking the orange "B" in the upper left hand corner of your blog, or going to the URL Blogger.com/home.
- Click on Settings.
Step 2: Basic
- The first tab under Settings you'll be sent to is called "Basic." Please do NOT change the title or add a description for your blog. Scroll down the page until you see the questions, Add your blog to our listings? and Let search engines find your blog? Select NO.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Save Settings"
Step 3: Comment Notification
- To receive an e-mail when someone comments on your blog, click on the "Comments" tab under Settings
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your e-mail where it says "Comment Notification Email." Click "Save Settings".
Advanced Blogging Techniques
Connecting with Other Blogs
Set up your Blogroll
A blogroll is a list of links to blogs you like to read, and recommend to your own readers. This is a great way to keep up with your favorite bloggers and guide your readers to find their blogs.
- To set up a blogroll, go into the "design" tab from your dashboard by logging into your account in www.blogger.com, or by clicking "design" in the upper right hand corner of your blog page.
- Once you are in the Layout section, click on the page element: "Add a Gadget"
- Scroll down the list of Basic Gadgets until you see "Blog List". Click the plus sign to add it. (Note: If you have trouble with the Blog List, try adding website and blog URLs through the "Link List" gadget)
- Give your bloglist a title such as "Friend's Blogs" or "Science Blogs" (depending on the subject matter of the blogs you're linking to), then click on "Add to List".
- Be sure to hit Save before you close the Bloglist Gadget Window.
- Add more than one section to you blogroll by going through these steps again (for example, you can have a list of "Science Blogs" as one blogroll, and another list under the title "Friend's Blogs" and so on. Add as many blogrolls as you'd like!).
- Be sure to add all the blogs of your Globaloria classmates.
Write A Great Blog!
Step 1: Using Multimedia
A good blog will utilize all kinds of medias: pictures, video, audio, links AND text. Use your imagination when you post. Write captions on interesting pictures, comment about videos you embed, link to other blogs or websites relevant to your Globaloria experience. Be creative!
Adding Pictures:
- Find a picture you want to add to your blog and save it on your computer hard drive
- Go to New Post template
- Click on the icon of the picture
- Click on browse and find the picture you saved on your computer hard drive
- Select if you want it to be on the left, right or in the center,
- Select if you want it to be small, medium or large
- Upload Image
Adding Video:
- Find a video online you'd like to embed into your blog post
- Copy its embed code
- Paste the code into your blog post template where you'd like it to go
- You can preview your post to be sure your code worked
Step 2: Use hyperlinks
A well-written blog often utilizes hyperlinks to lead readers to other good websites and articles on the topic you're writing about. Hyperlinks add information and great resources to every post.
- To add a hyperlink, highlight the text that refers to an outside website or article.
- Click on the icon of the globe with the link symbol
- Paste in the URL of the website you'd like to send readers to
- The more hyperlinks in your post, the better!
Step 3: Blog often
- Blogs are a great space for you to explore ideas and express your passions! Throughout this curriculum, you will find suggested blog topics, but you're encouraged to use your imagination to make your Globaloria blog amazing! Blog as often as you can.
Remember:
- You don't always have to write long posts. Sometimes simply sharing pictures or videos with captions is a great way to communicate!
- Just as you blog often, comment often! The more you share and communicate, the more active and fun blogging is.
Step 4: Have Fun!
- Be creative with your blog. Add gadgets, customize the layout, and personalize your content. This is YOUR space online. Have fun with it!
Visit the Globaloria Guide to Blogging for more on writing great blogs.
Update the Wiki
Update your Wiki Profile page with a link to your new Blog:
- Go to your profile and look for the line in the Personal info section that says "Your Blog:"
- Click the edit tab
- Click on the little globe in the row of buttons above the edit space to get the hyperlink format template.
- Replace the example URL with your blog URL and the "link name" text with the name of your blog.
- Save!
