Blogging

an introduction

setting up an account Go to edublogs.org to register

They will send you a password

Give your site a name

Formatting your blog under presentation- Choose a 3 column design You can then add sidebar widgets You must include: categories, links,

search etc, but you can add more

Writing a post Give the post a title Select at least 1 category for your post Type away You can format font etc Add a picture by inserting a jpeg from your

computer – or copy a picture on the net and just paste ( usually works). This improves readability

Writing a page These are more permanent than

posts

They are useful for archiving information

They appear along a bar just under the title

comments These will come to your inbox You can choose to accept or reject

YOU MUST TURN ON AKISMET SPAM FILTER or you will get comments from hundreds of weirdos trying to sell you viagra and photos of Russian ladies- to do this you will need to register with wordpress and get a key

uploading and sharing on the web You can upload straight into edublogs

(word/pdf/jpeg/ppt etc) For further storage and for unusual

files (e.g - .yar) upload to divshare.com

Upload photos to picasa.com register for slideshare to embed

powerpoint direct into your blog

making good use of your blog with your classes

running record of what is done in lessons Get students to act as scribes Upload homework Upload starboard lessons as pdf files (for revision /

absent students) Set up “work of the week” page to showcase

achievement / provide exemplar material Document practicals with photos / video clips Add a “science in the news” section Add weblinks for research Online quizzes and tests Encourage students to submit comments and queries

publicising your online presence Have your blog address highly visible on

your board/wall Mention it frequently in lessons/marking Get a hyperlink from the school website Send hw by email to office – link to blog Add blog address to assessment stickers Publish your presence in newsletter Inform parents at consultation evening Blogroll colleagues– ask to blogroll you

contributing to the departments afl blog

Keep up to date by subscribing to the RSS feeds (posts and comments)- use google reader

Share lesson ideas/good practise by regular posting

Contribute to focus in the fortnight Comment on posts made by

colleagues