We'll be using Google Blogger to create your blog. It's simple, quick, and easy. Really!
Step 1: Plan
What's in a name?
Spend a few minutes planning the name and address (URL) of your blog. For inspiration, you may want to peruse some of the sample blogs listed on the explore page. You can also check out this wiki page designed to help students craft a metaphor or theme for their blog titles and addresses.
Bloggers usually include an About section. Adding an About section gives readers information about you–the author of the blog. Since one of the first rules of information literacy is to evaluate the source of information, it is vital–if you want readers to count the information on your site as trustworthy–that you explain who you are, giving credentials to validate yourself as a legitimate source of information. For your first blog post, you'll create an About post.
First, check out Sue Waters’ tips on creating an About page. Note: Sue gives step-by-step directions for creating an About page on Edublogs, a different blogging platform. But, her other tips apply to any blog, including the one you're creating.
The info you include in the sidebar is a matter of personal preference. But, there are few key items (called widgets in Blogger) every blog needs to help your audience navigate your site:
Include a search box to allow visitors to search for specific info on your site.
Help reader's find content by adding widgets that display categories or labels (sometimes called tags) or archived posts or all of them.
Allow readers to subscribe to new content you add by adding a subscription widget.
Add links to other sites--sites for students or parents, or other blogs you read. Use the same strategy (link sidebar gadget) you used to create link to About Me page.
There are other optional widgets: Explore them in the Dashboard in the Layout section. Watch the video below to learn how to add gadgets to your sidebar.
Step 5: Embed Images and/or Video
Now, write a second post sharing what you've learned about blogging so far. Embed an image and/or a video in the post. The slideshows below explain how.
Blogging is all about conversation! Exchange blog addresses with members of your group. Then explore the blogs of your group members. Read what they've done thus far and leave them a comment.
You know the basics! Want to learn more? Check out these Blogger's Tutorials.
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