Step #4, Visually Design Your Blog!

Click on the Customize link in the upper-right hand corner of your blog. Here you may change the main template, edit your fonts and colors, edit your HTML, and add Gadgets. Gadgets are like mini-link bars that could be to other websites, games, news, etc that are built right into your postings. Remember that layout and color schemes are important when building you blog. There should be some uniformity so that the viewer/reader can easily navigate and understand your blog site.

Another feature here is to click on Settings. You may edit the web link for your blog site, edit the e-mail address listed on the page, change the settings for comments on your postings, add authors to your blog, and much more.

Step #3, Let's Start Creating a Blog!

There are a variety of directions available to create a Blog, but the link below has proven to be the most effecient and user friendly. It is in PDF format, and Adobe Reader is necessary to open the file. The directions are simple and outlined in an orderly fashion. As always take the time to create a Blog yourself and look for any possible technological glitches before assigning a project to your students! Start with the simple format that www.blogger.com offers first and then work on modifying and enhancing your blog design after your main text has been posted.

How To Create A Blog Guildines:

http://www.themlc.org/sites/9290fbae-86dc-4ed1-9fc8-7bfabe4766ba/uploads/Creating_a_Blog_directions.pdf

Step #2, Creating A Goal For Students

The main goal of this project is to have students create a Blog based on a specific topic or sub topic within a subject that can then be shared with others in the class. Instead of having students prepare a presentation for infront of the class, they may research a topic and create a Blog. For example, in a social studies class students could each be given a state, and then they can create a blog with information about that state to share. The guidelines can vary, as well as the about of information to be posted. Once all Blogs are finished, students would be able to post comments and questions to each other.

Step #1, What Is A Blog?

"A blog (a contraction of the term weblog) is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog."

Main Parts To A Blog Include:

Archives - The most recent posting to the Blog gets listed first and below or within that posting can be an infinite number of other posts or comments. It’s like a big drop down file, with many sub-folders.

Postings/Comments - These are not necessary and not all Blogs include comments, although usually the posting of comments allows for a conversation to be created back and forth. Feedback can be given on any of the postings on the site.

Design- Once the basic text is written the original creator may also choose fonts, sizes, colors, backgrounds, pictures, and more. It really gives someone an opportunity for individual expression.

For more information please visit the following site, "What is a Blog":
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2005/02/05/what-is-a-blog/