Thing 2 - Create your blog and a little about micro-blogging (Twitter)

Now that you’ve done some exploring around this website and understand how this program will work, it’s time to set up your very own personal blog to begin recording your thoughts, discoveries, and exercises. For this program, you may use any one of several free online blog hosting services including Wordpress , Blogger, Edublog – or Typepad .  These are all free – no cost.  (Remember, we are focusing on Web 2.0 tools which are mostly free and shareable).

Before you choose which blog system to use, you are encouraged to click on each of the above links to discover:

A) which one you like the best;

B) see samples of how other blogs are named (because you’ll need to give your blog a name.  Here are a few to look at: Librarian in black , Blue Skunk Blog , Ed Tech Journeys, 2 cents Worth , Media Shift , Web-Logged

C) learn if your district blocks certain blog services.

Finally, know that you need an email account that will attach to your blog (this is how they know you are a person).  In Thing 3, we ask you to create a Gmail account, so you may want to create a Gmail account first to connect with your blog.  Or, you can use an email account that is active and you regularly read (of course, most email services allow you to re-direct email to one main email address if this works better for you).

Grab yourself a blog in 3 steps:

1. Choose which blog service you want to use.

2. Create an account.   Note: If you get stuck, use the “help” section of the blogging service. Remember to write down your Username and Password.

3. Name your blog

Remember that the whole web world can see your blog title and blog address. You probably don’t want to use your real name. Consider creating a blog name that’s anonymous, yet uniquely you.  The format is name.wordpress.com or name.blogspot.com, etc. depending on the blogging service you use.  when you use blogger.com software. Note: There are no www in the address when using a blog service.   Please remember your URL address, bookmark it, or keep a notebook with your URLs, passwords, and special notes.

4. Select your template.

All blog services have several templates that allow each blogger to customize their look and feel - have fun choosing one for you! If you run into problems, check out the blog system’s help section or find a tutorial that shows you how to do this.

5. Create your first blog entry

Please clearly label each entry in your blog in the following way: Thing #1, subject. In your first post, please include a hyperlink to: http://clovis23things.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/register/ (just copy and paste this link into the blog post).  This will link you to others who are blogging through this 23 Things program.  Additionally, each of your blog posts can be “tagged”.  We would encourage you to at least include these two tags:  23things and Clovis (and of course any other tags you think better describe what you have written).  Each of your posts should provide insights into what you’ve discovered and learned. Feel free to share what worked for you … and what didn’t … what surprised you … what frustrated you … what amazed you.

6. Register your blog here and post your blog address as a comment on the 23 Things Blog.

TIP: This is a good time to  "bookmark " your blog for easy access throughout the course.

***BONUS ACTIVITY. Create an avatar -- a representation of yourself. Go to http://avatars.yahoo.com/ , design an avatar that represents you.  (You will have to set up an account if you don't use Yahoo!) Save your avatar and export to your blog.

[HINT: Here's how to export your avatar to your blog. When you are on your Avatars.Yahoo.com page, go to "home" tab and look to the right column. One of the options is: "EXPORT: Use your avatar in web pages and blogs and more." Click there. Then, in the Center of the page, 0ne option is your avatar's HTML code. Copy the code, go to your blog (Sign in. When you first sign in, there is an option to add a post OR manage posts, settings, or layout; Go to "LAYOUT." You will see various page elements.) Paste (Control V) the HTML code in the PAGE ELEMENT marked "HTML/Java Script." Then move that PAGE ELEMENT to wherever you want your avatar to appear on your blog.]

**Double Bonus - Create an account on Twitter.  A word about micro-blogging or Twitter. Twitter allows each person to type 140 characters at one time, so it is usually short thoughts, ideas and topics.  Twitter allows anyone to join and follow short ideas, thoughts, pieces of information of others.  Some describe Twitter as their newspaper, a bulletin board, a club.  Here is one description of Twitter.  Just like many online tools, until you start using it, you're not sure how it can be used.  If you do join, please do follow me (robdarrow) and then I can follow you.

Here is a short video that explains Twitter:

Here are some other examples for the use of Twitter :

• By universities. 
• By news organizations.
• For educational news.

These exercises are all about discovery! Have fun … and happy blogging!!

Remember that this is “discovery learning” so, you will learn things as you discover them along the way.  Each time you find a solution, you will rejoice and be that much more tech savvy!  Enjoy.

Blog Post Thing#2 My First Blog Post:  What have you learned so far about blogging and how can it be applied in the education field?

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