All Together Now: A 2.0 Learning Experience

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All Together Now: A 2.0 Learning Experience

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Thing #1: Blogs

July 21, 2008 First up, watch this video:

We'll be using blogs for all of you to record your thoughts, discoveries and exercises in the program. Some of you may like blogging so much, you might even write extra posts or continue after our course is over. For the course, we'll use free hosted blogging software. Choose from the following:*

Wordpress
Edublogs (Great for teachers!)

Choose one of the above, get an account and build your blog.We'll be highlightingWordpress for our examples, but the blogs at Edublogs are also a version of Wordpress, so everything will look familiar.

I f you need extra help, check out this video of setting up a Wordpress blog. Feel free to watch it while you set up your own.

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.wordpress.com. Be sure to write down your login and password.
Be sure to also write down your blog address as well, probably something like http://sampleblog.wordpress.com.

OK -- Now, it’s your turn... Discovery Exercise for Thing #1:

Setup a blog for yourself through Wordpress or Edublogs
Give your blog a name. Remember that the whole web world can see your blog title and blog address. You probably don’t want to use your full name. Consider creating a blog name that’s anonymous, yet uniquely you. Sams12Things.wordpress.com or KiraLearns20.wordpress.com are what you might see for this program.
Select a theme from the choices available.
Add a test post or two. Consider writing a brief bio, sharing only what you want to - remember, our blogs are out for the world to see! Or share what you'd like to get out of this program.
Enter your blog address at our community clearinghouse site: http://tametheweb.com/alltogethernowblogs/. Find your state or country and add a comment by clicking on the Comments link. Please introduce yourself and share your blog URL. This site will help us see who is participating and where they are on the globe. Please share only as much as you'd like.
Spend some time playing with your new blog: explore the options/features, try adding an image, or whatever strikes you.
Have fun!!!

Congratulations! You've completed your first task and you are now a blogger! :-)

We'll be back on Thursday for our next thing: RSS. Stay tuned.

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.

Resources: Wordpress How To: http://screencasts.thecorkboard.org/wordpress.mp4 by Kyle Jones, Dominican GSLIS

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

* If there is another blog hosting site that you are more comfortable with, please feel free to use it.

Posted by Michael Stephens on July 21, 2008 | Comments (18)

Industries: Education Technology, Gadgets, Technology, Web 2.0

July 21, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
Librarian Arodue commented:

Very good. Nice overview and simple explanation of blogs.

July 21, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
libanon commented:

video no longer available

July 21, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
Jim commented:

Here's my blog:
oldcomputermann at wordpress dot com

Just a note that your comments are blocking HTML

July 21, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
sharondressel commented:

I found a way around the "video no longer available" message. I think I went to the commoncraft site to get it.

July 22, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
KATHRYN TAMMS commented:

I wanted to use Edublog, but I've waited over 12 hours, and still have not received my confirmation/login info. Has anyone else had a problem??

July 22, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
Sara commented:

Will this blog at some point have an RSS feed like the rest of the SLJ blogs? I'm teaching a class on (essentially) Web 2.0 to teachers and librarians and am sharing this content with them encouraging them to participate.

July 22, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
molly commented:

I was wondering if we can use blogspot? I started my blog there earlier this month. I know there is a way to migrate it, but I'm not sure I'm that advanced yet.

July 22, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
Michael Stephens commented:

Molly - Go ahead and use Blogger. Any blog software is fine!

July 22, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
Michael Stephens commented:

Sara - hoping for the RSS feed soon!!!

July 22, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
Melissa A. commented:

That's a great little video... a cool lo-fi way to do instructional animation. Thanks for sharing! All signed up at AllTogetherNow and blogging at mahart dot edublog dot com, my shiny new Edublog.

July 22, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
Julie G commented:

Well, I had started a blog on Edublogs back in February. I am happy to get back to it and learn how to use it better. I am exploring but can't figure out how to upload pics.

July 22, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
Margaret commented:

The Common Craft In Plain English videos are perfect intros for students and staff. I really want to learn how to create my own.

July 22, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
Barbara commented:

Will there be an opportunity somewhere for us to ask and answer each others' questions, like Julie's one about uploading pictures? Or do we continue trial and error and using the host's help files? I can help Julie but not sure how to do so. On the other hand, I had questions (now answered by colleagues here) that others might wantthe answer to, too.

July 24, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
suzi w. commented:

I think I'll do this on my blog that is already on wordpress.com: www dot suziwackerbarth dot wordpress dot com.

July 26, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
Dawn, North Queensland, Australia commented:

Have set up a blog, but have decided to make it family only, as most of them live at the other end of the country. My husband has also become involved. We are really appreciating this opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in these areas. Thanks!

August 3, 2008
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
Leo commented:

Hi All,
well I have finally made a start and it is good to know that I can now make a Blog.

June 12, 2009
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
Kelly Brown commented:

The best information i have found exactly here. Keep going Thank you

July 6, 2009
In response to: Thing #1: Blogs
KonstantinMiller commented:

You know so many interesting infomation. You might be very wise. I like such people. Don't top writing.