Blogging with Blogger

A blog is your easy-to-use web site, where you can quickly post thoughts, interact with people, and more. Blogger is Google's blog application. Blogs can be used to easy create class announcements and informational items and deliver them directly to the school's website.

Since Blogger is a Google product you only need a Google login and password. Blogger also allows you to have multiple blogs associated with one account login.

Go to http://www.blogger.com/ and sign in. You will arrive at your Dashboard. This is where all of your blogs will be listed.

Creating Your First Blog

1. When you login for the first time you will see a blue button that reads Create Your Blog Now. Click that to create your first blog. To create additional blogs later on you will click on the Create a Blog link at the top, right of that Dashboard area.

   

    

2. Fill in the form on the Name your blog page:
   • Blog title: this is the title that will appear at the top of your blog. Make is something that identifies the entire blog, not just your first post.
   • Blog address: this will be the url of your blog IF you are going to post to Blogger. Note: if you are going to have your blog post to a CofC page then do not fill this in.
   • Word Verification: type in the letters that appear above the text box. This is to prevent spammers from auto creating accounts.
   • Advanced Setup: this is the section you will use if you want to post to a CofC site. We'll discuss this later.
   • Click Continue.
3. Choose a template: this will determine what your blog will look like. Don't worry, you can change it if you don't like it.
4. Click the radio button on the template you like and click Continue.
5. Yeah! Now click Start Blogging.

Creating a Blog Post

1. If you clicked on Start Blogging above it will take you directly to the Posting tab to allow you create your first post. If you are coming back to create a new post then, from the Dashboard, click on the +New Post link.
2. Title: Type in the title of this blog post. It should be indicative of what you are going to write about.
3. Body: This is the area in which you will type your posting. The bar above allows you to format your posting.

   

    

4. Under Labels for this post you can put tags on your blog posting. This will allow you or your users to search your entire blog for specific topics.
5. Click Post Options to determine if your readers are allowed to comment on your blog posts and to alter the post's date and time.
6. Click Publish Post.
7. To view it click on View Blog. To edit the post to click on Edit post.

Enhancing a Post with Images, Links and Video

1. Click on the dashboard.
2. Under your blog name click on +New Post.

Adding an image

1. From within the blog post body click on the image icon from the formatting toolbar
2. From the image upload window you can choose to upload a file from your computer or attach to an image that is already on the web.
   • Adding an image from your computer:
     • Under Add an image from your computer click on Choose File.
     • From the next window choose an image from your computer and click Choose.
     • If you want to add an addition image click on Add another image then repeat the steps above.
   • Adding an image from the web:
     • First, locate the image you want to use (probably from flickr).
     • Right-click on the image and choose Copy Image Location (if in flickr, click on the image and copy the URL under 2. Grab the photo's URL.
     • Paste the URL into the textbox next to URL. Note: Copyright is important to observe if not using your own images.
3. Under Choose a layout choose how you want your image to display in relation to your blog text. Also choose the image size.
4. When done, click Upload Image.

Adding a Video

1. From within the blog post body click on the video icon from the formatting toolbar
2. From the video upload window you can upload a file from your computer
   • Under Add a a file to upload click on Choose File.
   • From the next window choose a video from your computer and click Choose.
   • Under Video Title, type a short, descriptive title for this video.
   • Click on the checkbox stating you agree to not upload infringing or obscene material.
   • Click Upload Video.

Adding a link/URL

1. From within the blog post body highlight the text you want to act as a link.
2. From the formatting toolbar click on the link icon.
3. Type in or paste the url for your link.
4. Click Ok.

Viewing, Editing and Deleting Posts

1. Click on the Dashboard link in the upper right corner of the Blogger window.
2. Click on the Posts link from the under the appropriate blog.
3. To view the post click on the View link next to the post.
4. To edit the post click on the Edit link next to the post.
5. To delete the post click on the Delete link next to the post.

Blog Security

1. From the Dashboard, click on the Settings link for the blog you wish to work with. If you are already in the blog just click on the Settings tab.
2. Click on the Basic submenu
   • Title - allows you to change or edit the blogs title.
   • Description (optional) - allows you to create a description for the blog.
   • Add your blog to our listing? - if you wish to keep your blog private, click on No.

     Privacy Note:to protect your or a student’s privacy it is recommended that your choose No.  This makes it harder for the blog to be found

   • Let search engines find your blog? - if you wish to keep your blog private, click on No.

     Privacy Note: to protect your or a student’s privacy it is recommended that your choose No.  This makes it harder for the blog to be found.

   • Show Quick Editing on your blog? - allows you to edit a blog entry when viewing your blog.
   • Show email post links? - allows viewers to email posts to other people. If you are concerned about privacy or a defined audience choose No.
   • Adult Content? - Yes will give a warning message to viewers.
   • When done click Save Settings at the bottom of the page.
3. Click on the Publishing submenu.  This is where you can change the url for the blog.
4. Formatting submenu - where you can set basic date/time style settings. Make sure to set your time zone.
5. Comments submenu - where you change who can or can't comment on your blog entries. If you never want to allow comments make sure to change the Comments Default for Posts to New Posts Do Not Have Comments.

   Privacy Note: if you choose to allow commenting on your or a student's blog you may want to consider turning on comment moderation.  This will require the blog owner to approve all comments before they are displayed on the blog.  Also set Who Can Comment to at least Registered Users.  This gives some accountability to the commenter.

6. If you do want to allow comments then you should consider turning on word verification. This helps prevent spammers from posting comments to your blog.
7. Click on the Permissions submenu - this is where you can determine who can read your blog.

   Privacy Note: when using blogs in a classroom or with K-12 students consider restricting who can view the blog.  It is recommended that you choose Only people I choose from the Blog Readers area.  Once selected you can then invite only those who you wish to view the blog.

Spicing up your Blog

1. From the Dashboard, click on the Layout link for the blog you wish to work with. If you are already in the blog just click on the Layout tab.
2. This is where you can alter the layout of the information on your page.
3. You can add little extras to your blog by clicking on Add a Page Element. Some the items you can add are polls, lists, web links, and general text.
4. You can change the settings of any element by click on the Edit link in any of the elements.
5. You can delete the element by clicking on Edit then click on the Remove button.
6. You can rearrange the placement of the elements by clicking and dragging them to another area of the page.

Copyright ©Teaching, Learning & Technology • June 19, 2008 • College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29401 - 843.953.5569 myb