Blogging
Uses: Projects, journals, embed videos, keep track of conversations, post news articles, post homework, post review sheets, etc.
www.blogger.com (blogger is accessed through your gmail account. If you have a gmail then you can just login as yourself. If you don't then I have created an account for you.) When I use blogs in class, I have all students use a gmail account that I have created just for the purpose of the project – this gives me control over the content such that if an issue ever arose, I could go in and edit or delete a blog )
login: tvtscience2@student.tarbut.com
password – tvtentropy
Post Vs. Page – both can be changed at any time using the pencil or edit.
*you can also change the order of your posts by editing just the date box.
-posts move down the page in chronological order each new post at the top.
-Pages are static entities that in senescence act as a single post. They can be edited to make additions or changes whenever you like.
How to make a new page
Click – new post – then edit pages – then new page – then it asks you to name a location – I like my pages at the top of the page.
How to make a new post – click new post –
There is a edit HTML tab and a compose tab – when working in word click the compose tab. When working with embedding video click the edit HTML tab to copy and paste-
Embedding a YouTube Video
To embed a video from YouTube, just follow these simple steps:
- Click on the "Share" button underneath the YouTube video.
- Select "Show more," and then click on the Blogger icon.
- Depending on whether or not you're signed in to your blog, you might have to enter in your username and password in the new window that pops up.
- At the top of the new window, choose the blog you would like to post to from the drop-down menu.
- Publish your post!
*THIS IS THE METHOD I USUALLY USE***
Alternatively, you can copy the embed code and paste it into your blog. Just click on "Share" and then on "Embed" to find the embed code. Copy the code, then paste it into your blog while on the "Edit HTML" tab (as opposed to the "Compose" tab).
Posting pictures
You can now upload photos to your blog(s) using Blogger Images; just click the image icon in the post editor's toolbar.
When you click this icon, you'll get a window that allows you to select an image or multiple images from your computer. Click the Browse button to locate the ones you want. Alternatively, you can enter the URL of an image that's already online and insert it into your post.
If you click the link to choose a layout, you can customize the way your images will appear in your post:
The left, center and right options determine how the text of your post flows around the pictures. The size option lets you scale the pictures to different sizes within this posting area. Note that the picture will still be uploaded in its full size; this option just determines how it's scaled within the content of your post.
Adding an RSS Feed:
RSS stands for really simple syndication – they are generally sites that are updated regularly.
In the design tab – choose add a gadget – then scroll down to the RSS Feed gadget.
Copy and paste in the address for the RSS feed. Ex: Science News Daily –
RSS feeds normally look like one line of a web address.
You could always Google search your topic and RSS
WORKING DIRECTLY FROM WORD Document without ever having to log in. You can also open old files and just send them directly to your blog.
On word when you choose FILE NEW- you can choose blogpost.
- Choose manage accounts – enter the data necessary to have your accounts accessible from word. You can just post straight from word. WORD!
- All you need do is copy and paste the document into a blogpost and click submit
Ideas for blogs:
Post homework, review sheets | Post videos and have students comment | Post student work | Post interesting photos of art and have students comment | Post youtube videos of different parts of a song | Post garage band performances | Post links for research projects | Post math word problem of the day |
Post photographs from classroom reenactments | Post links to current events | Post links to podcasts about a certain topic | Have students keep a journal about…. | Have students keep their science log about…. | Have students create a awareness about….. | Have students collaborate about….. |
Notes:
Artist's concept of the GRAIL mission. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech