Easy Guide to Using J2Bloggy This is a BASIC guide to using the J2Bloggy site. It covers the simple things you will need to do to post your work to the site but the more time you spend playing on it, the better you will become! It also covers some basic expectations for how you will be expected to use this site to achieve the best possible grade!

Hub Site… There will be a main site for you to use with help, resources and important information regarding your assignments. It is really important that you familiarise yourself with this site:

Making your own site…. Once you log in it will take you to your home page. To do anything to your site you must go to the DASHBOARD. Once you go to the dashboard you will see this: You can then click on APPEARANCE which is on the left hand side. This then gives you options to click on THEMES, CUSTOMISE, HEADER, BACKGROUND, WIDGETS etc. You can use these to upload pictures, change the colour, background etc.

Widgets… Widgets are mini applications which can be used for quick access. You can choose to add different widgets through the dashboard. They will appear on the side of your home screen. The widgets you must include are: Calendar Recent Posts Categories Pages What else you include is up to you. However, remember you want to keep your page neat and up to date so don’t add anything you don’t understand or wont use.

Appearance rules… You MUST remember that this blogging site is going to be used to record any work you create for your BTEC award. It will be looked at to help DETERMINE your grade. The external assessor will be given access to look at your blogging site and your teacher will have access to edit and change aspects of your blog if required. If you choose to misuse this site your place on the course will be reviewed. You should be PROUD of the site and use it as an opportunity to show off all the fantastic work you can produce.

Appearance rules… You must keep the site title as your full name. Any images used must be relevant to the course. Always click save once you have edited anything as if you don’t you will lose your editing. Anything that is written must be proof read to check for correct SPELLING, PUNCTUATION and GRAMMAR. ** Anything that is deemed as inappropriate could mean the removal of your blog and therefore your work which will jeopardise your place on this course **

Always remember to click SAVE! Categories… You need to create categories for each of your units. You create these by going to the dashboard, clicking posts and then categories. For name write the unit number and name For slug write only the unit number. E.G. Name: Unit 3 The Mind and Sports Performance Slug: Unit 3 You need a category for each unit: Unit 3 The Mind and Sports Peformance Unit 1 Fitness for Sport and Exercise Unit 2 Practical Sports Performance Unit 4 The Sports Performer in Action Always remember to click SAVE!

Blogging work… As well as creating blogs directly on to J2Bloggy, you will be creating different pieces of work using a variety of resources including; Posters, podcasts, videos, presentations, cartoon strips, research notes Although you will be using different apps to create these resources instead of printing or emailing your work you will be blogging these to your website. For example here I have blogged a video for people to watch.

Posting work… To post work you must go to the DASHBOARD and click on posts which is on the left hand side: Then click add new This will take you to a new page where you will get to create your post.

Posting work… Always make sure you title your work using an appropriate, relevant title. You can then type in the text box. Always make sure that you tick the correct category for the unit of work that you are doing. (Although it doesn’t say it here, yours should be set up to say each unit of work)

Adding links to your work… If you want to add links to work you have completed using different resources (E.G. prezi, MicrosoftWord) you need to: Highlight a word to click E.G. in this sentence ‘here’ Then click add media. A new screen will then appear where you can upload your document. Click insert into work Always remember to click PUBLISH when you are finished

Adding hyperlinks from other websites… It may be that you have found a website that is useful, or you have created work on another website that you want to be linked to your blog. To do this you follow the same steps to create a new post. Copy and paste the website address in to the text box. Highlight it and click this button. 2. This box will then appear. You need to give the link a title and click add link.

Commenting on work… Your posts can be commented on using this box Your teacher or peers may comment on your work. Comments will be used for constructive feedback to help improve your work. This tool must be used correctly. As the examiner can access this work it is really important that you do not plagiarise anyone elses work.

Writing on blogs/Responding to work… Always check your SPAG. You will lose marks if you do not proof read your work! Check for plagiarism. Remember to reference correctly if you have taken your work from somewhere else. You must not copy your peers blogs! This will be taken very seriously. Be constructive. If you are reading someone else’s work it is helpful to leave some feedback. Start with something you like about the work and if there are areas that you think can be improved, identify them in an appropriate manner. Blogging is a brilliant tool for sharing work but it must be used APPROPRIATELY. Teachers and the examiners will be able to access your blog at all times. Any inappropriate use may mean your blog is SHUT DOWN.