How to Post Your Blog

Here’s a link to a PDF version of instructions, complete with pictures!

1. login – using your unique username and password (not to be shared). All usernames start with your name and then 01-15.

2. Under Lanaway’s Lounge (next to the house icon), you’ll see the option for Dashboard (in the drop down menu).

3. In the dashboard, you should see “Posts” (next to the pin icon). If you hover over “posts” you will see a drop-down menu; you can either go to “all posts” and then “add new” once you get to that page (button is at the top), or from the menu go straight to “add new”. Either way, click “add new“.

4. You’ll see a title text box. This is where you will put the title that I’ve suggested for you. For this week, it is: Ah-h Moment. Below that you will see another box. This is where you will submit your writing. Simply copy and paste from your word doc. Some quick tips: To select all: Ctrl A; to Copy: Ctrl C; to Paste: Ctrl V

Notice that you can edit text a bit. B = bold; I = italicized; you’ll also see bullets and options to number items. You can add media (pictures) and links (the chain link icon).

5. When you’re ready (ex. you’ve READ IT ONE MORE TIME for edits), look at the right side bar. The top box is how you publish your piece – but hold on! You’re not ready for that! Find the box titled: Categories (lower down in the right side bar). Select “writers” and then find your name. Click both boxes.

6. Go to the box at the bottom of the side bar titled: Post Visibility. I want you to hide it from the home page. Check the box for: “Hide on the front page.”

7. Now you’re ready to publish. In your case, you’re going to go back to the top of the right side bar. Find the blue button that says “submit for review“. This will send it to me to review; I will publish it, if I think it’s ready.

Happy Blogging!

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Tips on commenting and supporting learning process:

Under any of the posts will be a COMMENT link > click to open a box. (You can record in any language.)

  • Notice thought, capacities and growth.
  • Connect with your child’s opinions, stories or ideas.
  • Share your intellectual curiosity; wonder aloud.
  • Encourage
  • Co-conspire… “You are interested in spiders? Me too, here’s an interesting website I’m reading about spiders.”
  • I noticed you…
  • The part I found most interesting…
  • A few things you did really well here are…
  • One thing I’m seeing about your work is…
  • Have you considered…
  • Notice what they do well, was interesting or thought provoking.
  • Notice also what they could do to improve their writing, expand their thinking or progress in their learning

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Posting Images and Videos to your E-Portfolio

IMAGES

Two categories:

  • Image of an activity or product – resize to web quality (640 x 480 pixels)
  • Image of written work (eg. notebook) – resize to 1024 x 768 pixels or 800 x 600 (these need to be bigger so it can be seen more readily)

TIP: Save all images in a location that is easy to get to (eg. Google Drive, H:drive on computer). Do all your editing here.

Upload to a blog post: select Medium/Large if it is art work; select LARGE if it is written work

For more information on how to resize when on a computer, download this document: Image_Editing

For more information on how to compress an image via iPad, download this document: Image_compression_ipads

 

POSTING VIDEOS

How to take any video from an ipad (.mov) and upload it to a site with the media player. You basically convert to .mp4 using the Photos App (windows10). Here’s a video to show you how. When you access the link, scroll down to the very end.

Doing this will not require you to compress. Instructions for that below.

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Video takes up a significant amount of space and can slow a website down.

All videos need to be compressed prior to upload.

The goal is to get videos down to approximately 1-2MB. (*Sometimes changing the video size (down to 480 x 270) will do the trick.)

  • .MOV videos: Convert all .mov (idevices) to mp4 (this will allow websites to display the actual video).
  • AUDIO: Save these as mp3 (not mp4). Check the file size before uploading.

TIP: Save all VIDEO/AUDIO in a location that is easy to get to (eg. GDrive if you’re using GAFE, H:drive on computer). Do all your editing here.

For more information on how to compress your videos, please down this document: VideoAudio

GUIDELINES for Using Social Media

http://sd41blogs.ca/learningtech/files/2014/09/Guidelines-Staff-SM-2014-09.pdf

Student Blogging Guidelines

Publishing thoughts and ideas on the internet is a very public activity. Publishing as part of a blog is a classroom activity so you should not write anything that you would not say or write in your regular classroom.

Five Blogging Rules

Be safe

Anyone can access the Internet and view what you write on a blog. Your page is ‘protected’ but there is nothing to stop people from copying your material and placing it elsewhere on the web.Protect your privacy. Use your given username and do not post pictures of yourself.Keep all personal information to yourself.

Be mindful of what you say

  • You are responsible for anything that is posted in your username.
  • Use appropriate language (e.g. limit your use of text speak or netlingo).
  • Follow writing conventions including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
  • Try not to generalize your sentences. Avoid the use of “All” and “Everyone”.
  • How you say something is as important as what you say.
  • Could you be misunderstood? Be clear in the message you are trying to convey.
  • Images inserted into a blog must be related to the context of the message and follow copyright rules.

Be respectful to others

  • Blogs are about ideas – agree or disagree with an idea, NOT the person. Freedom of speech does not give you the right to be rude.
  • When responding, try giving two stars and a wish (two positive comments and one thing you think could improve).
  • Use evidence to support your position and make sure what you write is fair and accurate.

Be informative

  • Write about and present what you know. Make sure you get your facts straight and ask for advice if you are not sure.
  • Linking to web sites from your blog or blog comments in support of your argument is an excellent idea. You are responsible for checking the accuracy of the information you post online.
  • Respect copyright. It’s customary in the blogosphere to cite sources by linking to them within blog posts, and it’s recommended that you do so.

Be interesting

  • One way to do this is to expand on others ideas. You can quote other people’s work, link back to it and add your own thoughts or opinions to their ideas.
  • Make it interesting and fun so that you will encourage your readers and listeners to come back for more. There’s no point in blogging if people don’t read or listen to what you say.

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Types Of Blog Posts

Though you can certainly have overlap and combine multiple types into one, there are 10 types of blog posts you commonly see on the web:

1. Reflection – Deep thoughts and self-reflection on what you’ve learnt or what you’re thinking about. Putting it all out there can really help organize thoughts and ideas. Yu-Liang Shih’s reflection post and Andrea’s reflections on camp demonstrate how this style can be used as part of a student blog.

2. How-to/Helpful – The classic ‘how-to’ essay can be enhanced with pictures, videos, and other media. Yuka’s Ambassador of 2:1 Program (iPad advice) is a ‘how-to’ for other students and their parents. Alkkarose created a tutorial on how to create DIY bookmarks.

3. Journal/Diary/Recount – This is a versatile style of post that’s great for reading logs, field trips, science labs, special events, study abroad, etc. Emma’s Niigata Expedition is a journal post documenting reflections from a hiking trip. Molly recapped the Potato Olympics held at her school.

4. News/Announcement – These posts aim to keep readers up-to-date with important information. RIP Dabbing by Arielle and Goodbye Grade 7 by Kaiya are announcement posts.

5. Marketing/Sales – Typically these are commercial style posts. Students could use blogs to advertise school events and fundraisers etc. The students at Auroa School made a video to promote their school.

6. Controversial/Debate/Editorial – This involves taking a stance on an issue, while backing up thoughts with facts and proof. Examples include: Sidd’s debate on cell phones in schools, and Jackson’s Kids Watch Too Much TV.

7. Reviews – Think Amazon or TripAdvisor reviews. Students can review lessons, field trips, videos, books, games and more. Thanumi reviewed three websites for creating animated videos, while The Electronic Pencil sixth grade students reviewed video games.

8. Resource/Reference – These are similar to the how-to posts, but something people might bookmark and come back to again and again. Refer to Yuka’s Fair Game post, Elise’s list of keyboard shortcuts and Brooklyn’s collection of life hacks.

9. Ongoing Series – Choose any of the above, but split it up into several shorter posts that get published over a set period of time. Shahreen’s HIV/AIDS (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) posts are a good example of an ongoing series.

10. Curation Posts – Sometimes people use a blog post or page to curate a list of resources on a particular topic. Refer to Curation: Creatively Filtering Content by Sue Waters for more information.

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Creative Credit and Copyright

http://sd41blogs.ca/digitalcitizenship/2016/06/07/creative-credit-and-copyright/