How to Create your own Class/School Blog and flatten the walls of your classroom. A workshop presented at Innovate 2012.

1. The Why to and How to:
Create your own
Class or School Blog
Lisa G.
Twitter: @ICT_Educator
www.icteducator.blogspot.com

2. What is a Blog:
1. A personal or business online discussion/editorial
where posts are written and comments can be left.
Who has a Blog?
Stay at home parents / professionals / anyone.
Why have a Blog?
1. Personal – as a journal for life thoughts / events
2. Business – to share events / ideas / tools

3. Blog Examples:
For Class Projects : Flat Rosie
Record Lesson Ideas: ICT with Mrs G
For Extra-Mural Activities: Sunridge Computer Club
Online PD Advice: Schoolnet
A Tutorial Site: ICT Educator
Tools for Teachers: Teach Amazing
Personal Reflection: Shiny Headed Prophet
Children: Blog of a Bookaholic

4. What can I put on a Blog:
1. Text
2. Images
3. Movies in Movie Maker
4. Work done in PhotoStory 3
5. You Tube clips
6. SlideShare (PP to PDF)
7. Flipsnack (PDF to Flipping Book)
8. Screencasts (Screencast-O-Matic / Jing)
9. Presentations (Tripline)
10. And more!

5. Creating My Own Blog
www.blogger.com
OR
• Enter your email address and password

6. Name your blog
Blog domain
Create Blog

7. Post Name
Tag
Blog domain
Start typing your post
in the window.
You can preview / save.

8. To website Add a video
Add an image
Once your post is written you can add your links/pictures or
embed / Preview / Save.
 How to add a picture.
 How to link to a site.
 How to add a video (from web /from file)
 How to embed into your blog.

9. How to add a link:
• Open the website you want
to link to.
• Highlight the URL and copy it.
Go back to editing blog.
• Highlight the text you want to
link to.
• Click on the “Link” Icon
• Paste the copied link into the
pop-up window. Click OK.
• You will see the link now
appear in the editing box,
and the text will be
highlighted in your published
blog. Preview/Publish.

10. How to add an image:
• Click on the “Insert
Image” Icon as above.
• Choose file and locate
image.
• Insert the image
• Click on“Add selected”
• You will see it in your
editing window.
• Click on pic to place it
and add a caption.
• Preview/Publish.

11. How to add a You Tube Clip:
• 2 ways: Embed / Url
1. URL
• Open the clip on YouTube
• Highlight and copy URL.
• Go back to editing window.
• Click on “Insert a Video”
• From You Tube (or from
where you have it saved!)
• Paste the URL into window.
• Search. Choose the clip
you had in mind – Select.
• Your clip will now appear
on your Blog
• Preview/Publish.

12. How to add a You Tube Clip:
2. Embed
• Open the clip on YouTube.
• Click on “Share”
• Click on “Embed”
• Blogger usually uses the
“Old Embed Code”. Tick.
• Highlight the code and copy
it. Go back to editing
window.
• Click on “HTML”
• Paste the code where you
want your clip to appear.
• Your clip will now show on
your blog. Preview/Publish.

13. How to embed a Slideshare:
• Open your slideshare.
• Click on “Embed”
• Copy the code as
instructed. (you can just
click on “copy”) Go back to
blog editing window.
• Click on “HTML”
• Paste the code where you
want your slideshare to
appear.
• Your slideshare will now
show on your blog.
• Preview/Publish.

14. Preview
Check your preview. Close Preview window. Edit if necessary. Publish.
Click on DESIGN to get to your dashboard.

15. Published – working with Settings

16. Working with Settings
How many posts to
show/page?
Comments:
• Do you want them
embedded/pop up/new
window/hide?
• Who can comment
• Do you want to
moderate your
comments?
• Do you want a word
verification to show?
• Do you want to show
backlinks?
• What do you want to
write on your comment
form?

17. Designing the Look - Layout
Edit the “About Me” section. Write a short piece
about yourself, and the point of your blog.

18. Designing the Look - Layout
Edit the
“About Me”
section.
Save.

19. Designing the Look - Layout
Add a Gadget.
Gadgets = Sidebar Extra’s
• Followers,
• Twitter Feed,
• Blog Roll,
• Labels,
• Save Arrangement at the end.

20. Designing the Look

21. Designing the Look
Choose a template to work with – Customise it.

22. Designing the Look
Choose a background colour
Or choose an image
Choose the widths of
your columns
NB! At the end of every design section,
click “Apply to Blog”

23. Designing the Look
Customise your Columns – Adjust widths again if required.
Customise your Blog Post Title/Links/Text/Dates, etc.

24. Adding a Profile Pic

25. Adding a Profile Pic
• Your details appear at the top of
the page.
• Go and locate a Profile pic.
• Add the details you wish to add
below. They are not compulsory.
• Save the changes and return to
your Blog!

26. To write a new post:
1. Log in
2. Click on “New Post”
3. Repeat as instructed!

27. You are now the proud
owner of your own
School /Class Blog.
Have Fun!
Thank you for your time.