Welcome to Learning in the 21 st Century By Carol Rosen Instructional Technology Specialist

What is a Blog? Blog

A blog is an interactive website where teachers, students and parents can communicate with each other. It’s a motivating tool which helps to improve students’ writing skills and understanding of the materials they are reading and researching.

Teachers can use weblogs to communicate with parents communicate with parents make announcements make announcements create inquiry based lessons where students have to do online research to answer questions create inquiry based lessons where students have to do online research to answer questions gather & organize Internet resources for standards-based projects or lessons gather & organize Internet resources for standards-based projects or lessons

Showcase students’ completed projects Showcase students’ completed projects Post Do Nows and homework assignments Post Do Nows and homework assignments Make corrections to students’ work Make corrections to students’ work Can post prompts for writing and students can start to type drafts. Can post prompts for writing and students can start to type drafts. How would you use a blog with your class? How would you use a blog with your class?

Students can use weblogs to post their homework, classwork, projects post their homework, classwork, projects type written drafts and then place related images on their completed drafts type written drafts and then place related images on their completed drafts type their reactions to thought-provoking questions or photos that the teacher has posted type their reactions to thought-provoking questions or photos that the teacher has posted express their ideas and opinions about topics discussed in class express their ideas and opinions about topics discussed in class

complete class writing assignments complete class writing assignments What other ideas do you have? What other ideas do you have?

Registering & Creating your own Blog

Table of Contents Creating Username & Password Creating Username & Password Creating Username & Password Creating Username & Password Registering Registering Registering Terms of Service Terms of Service Terms of Service Terms of Service Accept Agreement Accept Agreement Accept Agreement Accept Agreement Creating Your Account Creating Your Account Creating Your Account Creating Your Account Last Part Last Part Last Part Last Part Creating your Weblog Site Creating your Weblog Site Creating your Weblog Site Creating your Weblog Site Last Part Last Part Last Part Last Part Selecting a Theme Selecting a Theme Selecting a Theme Selecting a Theme Your Weblog Address Your Weblog Address Your Weblog Address Your Weblog Address Logging into Your Account Logging into Your Account Logging into Your Account Logging into Your Account Inputting Info on Blog Inputting Info on Blog Inputting Info on Blog Inputting Info on Blog Defining a Post Defining a Post Defining a Post Defining a Post Parts of a Post Parts of a Post Parts of a Post Parts of a Post Clicking on Submit Clicking on Submit Clicking on Submit Clicking on Submit Defining Categories Defining Categories Defining Categories Defining Categories Creating Categories Creating Categories Creating Categories Creating Categories Attaching Files Attaching Files Attaching Files Attaching Files Creating Links to Other Sites Creating Links to Other Sites Creating Links to Other Sites Creating Links to Other Sites For More Info… For More Info… For More Info… For More Info…

Creating a Username & Password Navigate to Navigate to

Click on REGISTER

You Will Then See Terms of Service Window

Scroll to End & Click ACCEPT or Hold Down Control & End Keys to get to End of Terms’ Page

Follow Directions for Step 1—Creating Your Account Username should be the first letter of your first name followed by your last name. This is the name you will log into your account with. Use your school e- mail address.

Last Part of Step 1 Type Tech in the Enter Security Key box Then Click on Create User

Step 2—Creating your Weblog Site Type the first letter of your first name followed by your last name. Select High School teachers’ group. Type a Title for your Weblog. Type Sub Title.

Next Click Next Step.

Select a Theme or Background

You Have Just Created Your Weblog

Navigating to Your Website Type nyciblog.com/communities/ and then the first letter of your first name followed by your last name after the slant. Type nyciblog.com/communities/ and then the first letter of your first name followed by your last name after the slant. For example, to get to Mrs. Kaya’s weblog site you would type nyciblog.com/communities/dkaya. For example, to get to Mrs. Kaya’s weblog site you would type nyciblog.com/communities/dkaya.

Logging onto Your Weblog Click on Login

Logging In Type Username Type Password

Inputting Information on Blog First click on Manage Posts

Click on New Post—A Post is a page that you type your information on. Click on New Post

Post Must Have a Title & Body Type the Title for your information Type your info in the body of your post

Remember to Click Submit After Typing Your Information; otherwise info will be lost. Click Submit

Categories Think of Categories as different folders to save your information in. Think of Categories as different folders to save your information in. If you want specific information to go on your home page or front page, then don’t click on any category. If you want specific information to go on your home page or front page, then don’t click on any category. Just leave Category on Category and click New Post.

Creating Categories First Click on Manage Categories.

Next, Click on Create New Category Click on Create New Category.

Thirdly, Type Name of Category Type Name of Category Description is Optional Don’t forget to to click Save.

Attaching Files—Step 1 Attaching Files—Step 1 First click on Manage Posts. You can only attach files to posts.

Attaching Files—Step 2 Click on Post you want to attach file to by clicking on Edit next to post you choose. Note: Each time you create a post, you can only attach one. If you want to attach another file, you must create new post.

Attaching Files--Step 3 Click on Attach File tab.

Attaching Files—Step 4 Click Add/Update

Attaching File—Step 5 Click on Browse to locate the file you want to attach. After you have located file, click on Save.

Attaching Files—Last Step You will see attached file. Then click on Submit.

Creating Links to Other Sites First click on Add Links.

Creating Links Then, click on Create New Category.

Name Category Name Category Type Name of Category. Then click on Save.

Select Category & Create New Link Select Category. Click Create New Link

Adding Link Type Title of Link. Copy and Paste URL(link) address. Click Save.

For More Information Navigate to your weblog. Click on Help.

The Help Menu Click on any of the topics you need help in mastering.