Itz Cool 2 Read A middle years student book review site. http://cool2read.edublogs.org A tutorial on using…

Objectives of this tutorial Learn how to find the weblog (blog) Learn how to navigate and find books on the blog Learn how to post new books on the blog for students then to review Learn how to moderate your students’ comments and reviews

Learn how to find the weblog (blog)

Learn how to navigate and find books on the blog

Learn how to post new books on the blog for students then to review

Learn how to moderate your students’ comments and reviews

Navigate to the site

How to navigate to the site Type in the address: cool2read.edublogs.org in the address bar of an internet window. Do not put a www. In front of the address This is a free, public website, so sometimes it has technical problems, but what doesn’t? You can access this from anywhere there is an internet connection.

Type in the address: cool2read.edublogs.org in the address bar of an internet window.

Do not put a www. In front of the address

This is a free, public website, so sometimes it has technical problems, but what doesn’t?

You can access this from anywhere there is an internet connection.

How is the blog organized Posts, or book reviews are placed from the most recent at the top of the page. These first 2 books were the latest entries.

Posts, or book reviews are placed from the most recent at the top of the page.

These first 2 books were the latest entries.

Find books on the blog Books are grouped in Categories and Tags . Categories are genre Tags are topics within the books These will help you and your students find books that interest them  Note: the bigger the tag word, the more books on that subject

Books are grouped in Categories and Tags .

Categories are genre

Tags are topics within the books

These will help you and your students find books that interest them 

Note: the bigger the tag word, the more books on that subject

Before you post a new book - Search Use the Search box to find the book you want to review. If the book is not on the site, then you must Log in to post a new book to review. Only teachers in the Saskatoon Public School Division will be able to post new books.

Use the Search box to find the book you want to review.

If the book is not on the site, then you must Log in to post a new book to review.

Only teachers in the Saskatoon Public School Division will be able to post new books.

Log in You must have a username and password to log on. Contact the OLC or the site administrator to log on. Email [email_address] For more info. Click Log in under Meta , down the page under the Tags section

You must have a username and password to log on.

Contact the OLC or the site administrator to log on. Email [email_address] For more info.

Click Log in under Meta , down the page under the Tags section

This is the log in page Watch when you type in the username and password, that you enter it exactly as instructed.

Watch when you type in the username and password, that you enter it exactly as instructed.

Post New Books You will Write new posts, which will become the books your students will review. Click on the Write tab, then click Post Or click Write a New Post button here. Note: do not write a new page!!

You will Write new posts, which will become the books your students will review.

Click on the Write tab, then click Post

Or click Write a New Post button here.

Note: do not write a new page!!

Before you post a new book Find the book cover picture on Google images Searching the book title is usually effective

Find the book cover picture on Google images

Searching the book title is usually effective

Save the picture Publishers want us to use the covers of their books, so do not worry about copyright. Right click on the picture and save it to your documents.

Publishers want us to use the covers of their books, so do not worry about copyright.

Right click on the picture and save it to your documents.

Write a Post Type the Title here Leave space for the picture In the post box, put the author’s name

Type the Title here

Leave space for the picture

In the post box, put the author’s name

Add the cover picture to the post Click Add an image , next to the Add media button here

Click Add an image , next to the Add media button here

This is an annoying step Everything works well on this site, except this! Choose the “ Browser uploader instead”

Everything works well on this site, except this!

Choose the “ Browser uploader instead”

Browse for the cover picture Click the Browse button Find the cover picture in your documents, click that file Click open

Click the Browse button

Find the cover picture in your documents, click that file

Click open

Upload the cover picture Click the Upload button, here

Click the Upload button, here

We are almost there… You are almost ready to put the picture in the post, but we don’t want huge pictures on the site, so scroll down in this box. Use the scroll bar on the side.

You are almost ready to put the picture in the post, but we don’t want huge pictures on the site, so scroll down in this box.

Use the scroll bar on the side.

Insert a thumbnail picture Click Thumbnail next to Size Then click Insert into Post button

Click Thumbnail next to Size

Then click Insert into Post button

Wow, we did it, Title, Author, and book cover picture That almost seems like too much work, but trust me when I say, the cover picture is worth it. If the picture is in the wrong spot, you can just click it with the mouse and drag it around in the post.

That almost seems like too much work, but trust me when I say, the cover picture is worth it.

If the picture is in the wrong spot, you can just click it with the mouse and drag it around in the post.

Now, enter the Category & Tags Type in the Tags Try to use some tags that are already in use Click the appropriate Category

Type in the Tags

Try to use some tags that are already in use

Click the appropriate Category

Last Step, Publish This post is not published yet Publishing it makes it appear on the internet Saving it, is when you want to make changes to posts that are already published

This post is not published yet

Publishing it makes it appear on the internet

Saving it, is when you want to make changes to posts that are already published

Students leave comments on a book When students find a book they have read, they can put their book review in the comment box Click here

When students find a book they have read, they can put their book review in the comment box

Click here

How to comment Students should only put in part of their name Tell them to use initials, the school name, and grade i.e.: j.e.CRS6-7 Ignore email and website They must enter the Antispam word correctly Cut and paste, or type in their book review Then click Submit Comment

Students should only put in part of their name

Tell them to use initials, the school name, and grade i.e.: j.e.CRS6-7

Ignore email and website

They must enter the Antispam word correctly

Cut and paste, or type in their book review

Then click Submit Comment

What to do with student comments Student comments do not show up on the blog without first being approved by an administrator You will moderate all your student comments Tell your students that they need to inform you when they are putting book reviews on the site You must log in to the site and moderate their comments This is why it was important what name they put on their post, because you now have to find your students’ posts

Student comments do not show up on the blog without first being approved by an administrator

You will moderate all your student comments

Tell your students that they need to inform you when they are putting book reviews on the site

You must log in to the site and moderate their comments

This is why it was important what name they put on their post, because you now have to find your students’ posts

How to moderate comments When you are logged in, click on Comments There are 29 comments waiting to be moderated by someone

When you are logged in, click on Comments

There are 29 comments waiting to be moderated by someone

Moderating Comments You can view all comments and edit ones that are already on the blog Or you can view only those Awaiting Moderation

You can view all comments and edit ones that are already on the blog

Or you can view only those Awaiting Moderation

Moderate student comments Now you can approve, delete, or mark the comments as Spam Spam is rude unsolicited communication We would encourage you to set high standards for the comments you will accept from students

Now you can approve, delete, or mark the comments as Spam

Spam is rude unsolicited communication

We would encourage you to set high standards for the comments you will accept from students

This is all you need to know to get started using cool2read.edublogs.org Now you can find Itz Cool 2 Read on the internet Your students and you can search the blog to find books they have read, either to post reviews or to find good books to read themselves You can put new books on the site for students to review You can moderate, approve or delete, their comments before they are viewed on the internet

Now you can find Itz Cool 2 Read on the internet

Your students and you can search the blog to find books they have read, either to post reviews or to find good books to read themselves

You can put new books on the site for students to review

You can moderate, approve or delete, their comments before they are viewed on the internet

That is not all There are a few other things you can do on this blog For example, you can edit the blog or edit old posts on the blog (you don’t have to do that!) We, the middle-years teachers of the Saskatoon Public School Division, have worked hard to set up this resource. Help us build it to become a useful resource for our students. Thanks!

There are a few other things you can do on this blog

For example, you can edit the blog or edit old posts on the blog (you don’t have to do that!)

We, the middle-years teachers of the Saskatoon Public School Division, have worked hard to set up this resource. Help us build it to become a useful resource for our students.

Thanks!