Blogger.com

Details

Activity Description

A blog is a web-log – an online journal for ideas and commentary. Blogs are considered Web 2.0 tools, meaning that they are not static Web sites, but rather a medium for online collaboration and sharing. You can use a blog to publish student writing, to collaborate on writing projects, and to create community.

Preparation

1. Print instructions-see Example Document 
2. View Example URL for a Blog from the Mira Costa Community College ESL Digital Stories.

How-To

Blogger is affiliated with Google and is a popular and easy-to-use, free blog site. To set up your blog in minutes, follow these easy steps:

1. Go to the Blogger site. If you already have an e-mail account with Google (Gmail), you can sign in with your Gmail username and password. A Gmail account is not required, however.
2. Enter your information. Select the box to agree to the Terms of Service and then choose Continue.
3. Name your blog and give it a URL (Web address). Select Continue once the availability of the URL you have chosen is confirmed.
4. From the dashboard under theme choose a template for your blog. Scroll down to see all the options. Choose the template you prefer. Select Continue. Your blog is now set up.
5. Under Layout you can choose gadgets to your blog. Some include pages, link list, blog stats and many others
6. Select Start Posting to set up your personal profile, add posts, and alter the look of your blog.

More directions
To add a Post:

• Click the big plus sign at the bottom to create your first post.
• Give your post a title. For text, the tool bar is standard for changing font, point size, colors, and other formatting

Embed video, slide shows, etc., from other Internet sites:

• Copy the HTML code. (Select the html code in the Embed area.) To copy, press and hold down the Control key and the C key at the same time.
• On your blog post, select the Edit HTML tab. Paste the HTML code (Press and hold down the Control key and the V key at the same time).
• After you add your post, you can preview it. The last step is to select the Publish Post button.

More Ways

Ideas for Using Blogs:

• Create a discussion forum for your class
• Embed various multimedia (this means you can use the HTML editor to post online video, slideshows, sound files, and more)
• Give students a chance to communicate openly with each other and with you
• Give students opportunities to work on team projects and collaborate
• Have students make their own blogs or make small group blogs
• Post class assignments, lectures, study guides, notes, writing prompts, homework, readings, Web site addresses you want students to visit, class photos, students’ work (with their written permission), assignment samples or models, student / class / school news
• Use as an instructional evaluation tool for formative assessment: give students a chance to comment on their progress, the class, your teaching, what they like or do not like, understand or do not understand.
• Share lesson plans and materials
• Network with colleagues
• Use your blog for self-reflection or as a professional development tool

Program Areas

• ABE: Adult Basic Education

Levels

• Low
• Intermediate
• High
• All Levels

Documents

• Blogger accessible.docx - Blogger

Subjects

• Reading
  • Vocabulary

Tags