This document provides guidance for researchers interested in starting an academic blog. It discusses defining blog purposes and audiences, choosing a platform, styles of writing, embedding multimedia, publicizing the blog, measuring success, and addressing concerns. Key recommendations include starting small with a defined audience, varying post types, using an engaging conversational tone, and networking by following other blogs and platforms. The goal is to make blogging a useful exercise that disseminates work beyond one's research community.
At WordCamp Ottawa on April 27, 2013, I talked about how to write a blog post, which is a topic that often gets lost among all the discussions on design and functionality. The quality of content is really one of the core reasons people come to a website. A lot of us get stuck when writing posts, so I came up with some ways to generate ideas, decide how to package them into a blog-like format, and then finally write them. There are also some tips for streamlining your workflow in WordPress.
A presentation for Community Media Workshop's Making Media Connections Conference created with Stephen Franklin. Steve's a spiritual guy, thus the presentation name change to Nirvana. :) He provides lots of great examples of nonprofit blogs. The technical insights come from me. :)
How to Blog your way to Increased Constituent Engagement and Fundraising4Good.org
The #1 reason people don't give is because they aren't asked. The #1 reason people aren't ready to be asked is because they don't know enough about you, aren't engaged enough with you, and just don't keep you top of mind. A blog can help you change all that. Learn why yesterday's website is today's blog, and steps to take to turn your blog into a powerful constituent engagement tool.
At WordCamp Ottawa on April 27, 2013, I talked about how to write a blog post, which is a topic that often gets lost among all the discussions on design and functionality. The quality of content is really one of the core reasons people come to a website. A lot of us get stuck when writing posts, so I came up with some ways to generate ideas, decide how to package them into a blog-like format, and then finally write them. There are also some tips for streamlining your workflow in WordPress.
A presentation for Community Media Workshop's Making Media Connections Conference created with Stephen Franklin. Steve's a spiritual guy, thus the presentation name change to Nirvana. :) He provides lots of great examples of nonprofit blogs. The technical insights come from me. :)
How to Blog your way to Increased Constituent Engagement and Fundraising4Good.org
The #1 reason people don't give is because they aren't asked. The #1 reason people aren't ready to be asked is because they don't know enough about you, aren't engaged enough with you, and just don't keep you top of mind. A blog can help you change all that. Learn why yesterday's website is today's blog, and steps to take to turn your blog into a powerful constituent engagement tool.
How to Quickly Find Awesome Ideas for Your BlogSteve Williams
This document is about idea generation for your blog post writing.
Here is a brief overview of what you will get from this document:
• Idea generation tips
• How to overcome your writer’s block
• The types of blog posts you need to write
• Copywriting techniques
• Ideas to create headlines
• Tips about lead magnets
• Evergreen content ideas
• Grammar and readability suggestions
Graham Lavender on blogs and Twitter at John Abbott 2010guybrariang
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An introduction to blogging and writing blog posts. This is aimed at educators, instructors, and related professionals. References the blog at the International Institute for Innovative Instruction: http://engage.franklin.edu/i4/
A presentation on the successes and challenges of managing a faculty and student blog at an independent boarding school, including why blogging is important to your school brand and for getting found on the web.
How to Quickly Find Awesome Ideas for Your BlogSteve Williams
This document is about idea generation for your blog post writing.
Here is a brief overview of what you will get from this document:
• Idea generation tips
• How to overcome your writer’s block
• The types of blog posts you need to write
• Copywriting techniques
• Ideas to create headlines
• Tips about lead magnets
• Evergreen content ideas
• Grammar and readability suggestions
Graham Lavender on blogs and Twitter at John Abbott 2010guybrariang
This is the presentation I gave to students in John Abbott's ILT program on Oct 22, 2010. It's a slightly modified version of the presentation that I gave at Web 2.You 2010.
An introduction to blogging and writing blog posts. This is aimed at educators, instructors, and related professionals. References the blog at the International Institute for Innovative Instruction: http://engage.franklin.edu/i4/
A presentation on the successes and challenges of managing a faculty and student blog at an independent boarding school, including why blogging is important to your school brand and for getting found on the web.
This talk was given by Heidi Gardner at the University of Aberdeen, as part of the University's Qualitative Research Network. Heidi covers the broad subject of academic blogging; including why academics should blog, what types of blogging options are out there for those looking to get started, and the issues you should consider when blogging about your research and/or academic life.
There are lots of ways that you can use blogging platforms to share your expertise or experiences, so it is important to think strategically about what you want to achieve and how blogging can help you develop as a researcher.
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This talk was given on the 24th of November for the Leuven.AI institute with some tips & tricks for attracting & surviving media attention as a PhD student, based on experiences from Thomas Winters.
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As a young aspiring scientist, social media is one of the outlets to disseminate your work and connect to the community. This talk gives hints on the benefits and risks of science on social media. Talk at the ICSE 2022 New Faculty Symposium.
Slides accompanying the University of Edinburgh Digital Day of Ideas 2016 (#DigScholEd) workshop on Tweeting and Blogging for Academics run by Nicola Osborne (EDINA) and Lorna Campbell (EDINA/LTW). The workshop took place on 18th May 2016. Read more about the event here: http://www.digital.hss.ed.ac.uk/ddi/ddi-2016/
Webinar presentation for the TLC (Teaching and Learning Conversations). I expand on the use of Formulation in Learning Development and how it might be practised.
Presentation for the ICALLD online symposium and ALDinHE conference -a core skill in Clinical Psychology, can Learning Developers adapt formulation to better enact their values in one to one work?
Presentation at the Staff and Education Development Association conference at Nottingham, Nov 2014. Chris Rowell of RUL and I shared our experiences of running Ten Days of Twitter
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
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It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
Instructions for Submissions thorugh G- Classroom.pptxJheel Barad
This presentation provides a briefing on how to upload submissions and documents in Google Classroom. It was prepared as part of an orientation for new Sainik School in-service teacher trainees. As a training officer, my goal is to ensure that you are comfortable and proficient with this essential tool for managing assignments and fostering student engagement.
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In this webinar you will learn how your organization can access TechSoup's wide variety of product discount and donation programs. From hardware to software, we'll give you a tour of the tools available to help your nonprofit with productivity, collaboration, financial management, donor tracking, security, and more.
Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology:
Ethnobotany in herbal drug evaluation,
Impact of Ethnobotany in traditional medicine,
New development in herbals,
Bio-prospecting tools for drug discovery,
Role of Ethnopharmacology in drug evaluation,
Reverse Pharmacology.
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
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1. A Beginner’s Guide to Blogging
for researchers
Dr Helen Webster
Researcher Development
2. Online Resources
• This session is associated with STEMDigital, a
blended learning programme. The programme
blog is at http://stemdigital.wordpress.com/
• The slides are online at
http://www.slideshare.net/drhelenwebster/
• If you‟re on Twitter, please livetweet!
#STEMDigital
3. What is a blog?
Definitions and characteristics please!
It may be obvious, “common knowledge” now, but
forgetting the difference between a static, broadcast
web 1.0 webpage and a dynamic, interactive,
conversational web 2.0 blog post is what makes for a
bad blog…
4. Reading Blogs
• Who here reads blogs?
▫ What sort? (hobbies, professional, etc)
▫ How do you find them?
▫ How do you know what‟s posted on them?
▫ How do you read them (how long, how much etc)
▫ What makes a good blog?
• Everyone: what sort of blog would you like to
read? How would you read it?
5. Consuming blogs
• It‟s important to read blogs because:
▫ You get to know what works (and doesn‟t)
▫ You get to know typical reader behaviour
▫ You get to know other bloggers – at its best,
blogging is a reciprocal conversation
▫ They‟re interesting! And might provoke thoughts
for you to write about and link to in your own
blog…
7. Blogging motivations
So why do you want to blog?
▫ What are your top 3 aims?
▫ Who are your top 3 intended
audiences?
▫ What are your top 3 topics?
8. What *exactly* do YOU want to get out
of blogging?
It‟s quite a time investment…. So what
would make it worth it for you?
• Idealistic…
• Professional…
• Personal…
9. Other than research, what could you
share?
Core
research
Profess-
ional
activities
Teaching
Adminis
-trationImpact
Publish
-ing
11. Analysing blogs
• Vanessa Heggie, Guardian
• Athene Donald
• LSE‟s Impact of Social Sciences
• Cambridge Science Festival
• Cambridge Centre for Health Sciences Research
• Ben Goldacre
• Ten essential qualities of science bloggers
• The Periodic Table of Elements
12. Analysing blogs
• Pick a blog:
▫ What is the type of blog – purpose and
audience?
▫ What features and widgets does it have?
▫ What style is it written in?
▫ Do you find it engaging? (or: might its
intended audience find it engaging?)
13. Planning a blog
• Refine your audience: “academics” or “the general
public” isn‟t specific enough!
• How big a readership do you want?
• Why would it be useful for your intended readers?
• What type of blog will it be?
• What exactly would it focus on? List as many
„categories‟* of blog post as you can for that topic
• Time: How long will it last? And how frequently will
you post?
• How will you publicise it?
• What style guidelines will you set yourself?
14. Types of academic blog*
Audience Genre Purpose
Academic-Peers-Project Closed Community Communication skills
Academic-Peers-Field Academic-Research Disseminate to Community
Academic-Students Academic-Process/experience Feedback on Work
Academic-General Academic-Service Creating communities/contacts
General interested public Educative Increases employability
General disinterested public Aggregator or Digest Stepping stone to new job
Potential Employers &
Googlers
Practical Providing a service
Misc Creative Disseminate beyond Community
Institutional-Misc Funding body required
Institutional-Calendar Personally useful exercise
Political
*Source: Vanessa Heggie, Blogging workshop, HPS
Cambridge
15. What to post about?
• For your intended blog, jot down at least TEN
ideas for posts:
▫ Titles
▫ a brief note of what each one might include
▫ Category and Tags
• Review these: are they too large? can you break
each one down into more posts or suggest other
takes on them?
16. Types of post
• You could vary between:
▫ Instructional tips and how-to
▫ Explanation and information
▫ Reflection
▫ Advice and problem-solving
▫ Editorial commentary on a news story
▫ Account of an event e.g. conference
▫ Some ideas in draft for discussion
▫ A review of an article or book
▫ A discussion prompt
▫ Top ten list
▫ Curation of other people‟s material
▫ A series of posts on a topic
17. Blogging style
• A blog is NOT an online journal article; it is a
different genre with different writing
conventions:
▫ Snappy title (will also be URL)
▫ Conversational, personal tone
▫ „Shorth‟ – 600 words (1000 MAX and RARELY)
▫ Hypertext links instead of footnotes and
references
▫ Multimedia – embed images, video, sound, slides,
documents….
▫ Scannable – no large blocks of dense text
18. Practising your style
• Take one of your ten ideas for a blog post
• Write ca. 300 words in a suitable style and tone
• See what others think – is it engaging and
accessible? (try reading it aloud as if you were
chatting to someone – if it sounds odd, the tone
may be too academic!)
19. Choosing a blog platform
• Wordpress.com (lots of functionality and
possibility to customise it)
• Blogger (from Google – integrates with your
other Google tools. Easy to use)
• Livejournal (often associated with fandom)
• Tumblr (in between a blog and a microblog –
good for getting used to posting short things or
commenting on media you‟ve found)
20. Embedding media
• You can link to other media, but it‟s better to embed
it in your blog:
• Images
• Video
• Slides and slidecasts (Slideshare)
• Audioclips and podcasts
• Documents (Scribd)
These might be „grey literature‟ offcuts, things you‟ve
produced specially, or material by other people.
21. Publicising your blog
• Win a „Following‟:
▫ Blogs are a kind of social network. „Follow‟ other
blogs, comment on them, reblog or retweet them,
etc. Add a „blogroll‟ to your blog.
▫ Make sure you have a „Follow‟ button on your blog
so people can subscribe!
▫ Embed it in your social networks. Update on other
social networks that you‟ve written a new post
(Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
▫ Invite and reply to comments. Invite guest posts.
Blog as part of a community
▫ Write for a small, concrete, known audience in
the first instance. On that point…
22. Start small
• “projects that will only work if they grow large enough
generally won‟t grow large; a veritable natural law in
social media is that to get to a system that is large and
good, it is far better to start with a system that is small
and good and work on making it bigger than to start with
a system that is large and mediocre and working on
making it better”
Clay Shirky (2010), Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and
Generosity in a Connected Age
23. Publicising your blog:
• Serendipity, searchability and shareability
▫ People may only stumble across a post by accident
(and may only read one post – that‟s ok!)
▫ Think carefully about your metadata – the title of your
posts, but more so
CATEGORIES
TAGS
▫ Add links to other sites, especially other social media
sites (and blogs) and „authority‟ sites
▫ Add „share‟ buttons to your blog if not already there
▫ Post regularly to stay high in Google‟s rankings
24. Measuring success
• Use the built-in analytics
• Embed Google Analytics
• Track others who‟ve linked to or commented on
your blog posts
• …but what does success mean to you? A
successful one needn‟t mean thousands of
readers!
25. Blogging concerns and pitfalls
What are your reservations about blogging as an early
career researcher?
• IP: People „stealing your ideas‟
• Blogging as a bar or distraction to publishing
• Legal: libel, breaking copyright
• Getting into disputes
• Trolling, Flaming, Spamming
• Time management
• Not being taken seriously by senior academics
It’s a issue of risk management: how likely are
these things to happen? And can you take sensible
steps to prevent them?
26. Too much effort?
• Consider:
▫ Writing guest posts on other people‟s
blogs
▫ Starting a group blog (good editing
experience!)
▫ Vlogging
▫ Writing shorter posts!
27. Other types of blog
Limited audiences:
• Reflective blogs (may be private)
• Drafting blogs (often private)
• Update and news blogs for a project (for
funders/stakeholders)
Static blogs
• Professional profile (more flexible than
LinkedIn, may still have a blog element)
28. What next?
• STEMDigital post on blogging – comment, tell
us about your blog and your experiences!
• How to build a network: look out for Module 2 of
STEMDigital, including Ten Days of Twitter,
starting soon!
• Build a community of science bloggers at
Cambridge
www.STEMDigital.wordpress.com