Session 2.8: Web 2.0
Activity: Blogs
In this activity you can either:
a) create a blog using MySpace
or
b) create a blog using Blogger™.
Please note that this activity does not intend to recommend certain products, it rather presents options to explore when considering the use of blogs for enhancing teaching and learning. For a carefully selected list of further blog software view the sheet Web 2.0 applications for teaching and learning.
a) Create a blog using MySpace that includes a video clip from YouTube
Why use MySpace?
Although MySpace is famous for being a very popular social networking site, it also allows you to write blogs and set up groups for free that can be private just to you and the people you choose to invite. Furthermore, your profile pages can be set to ‘private’ so only you and your ‘friends’ (ie the people you allow) can view these. Therefore, a tutor and their students could all set up their own profile page, add each other as friends, and set their profiles to private. This way they can view each other’s profiles but no one else can. This would also allow them to write blogs and set up their own private group that will allow them to have forum discussions. This option of using Web 2.0 and specifically using a blog might be valuable for anyone who cannot afford a learning platform or does not have the time to set up and manage a Moodle. (NB you need to be a member of MySpace for seven days before you can set up or join any groups).
Setting up your MySpace blog
1. Go to http://www.myspace.com and click on SIGN UP! to set up your own user account.
2. Enter the information required for registration and tick the box to accept the terms and conditions. Click on Sign Up
3. You will then need to verify your account by typing the text that you see in the image box. Once you have done this you will be taken to a page inviting you to upload some photos. Click on skip for now.
4. Next you will be taken to a page inviting you to add some friends. Click on skip for now.
5. You will now be taken to your home page. On the left of your home page is a blue box which says “Hello [your name]!” at the top. Click on the link Manage Blog in this blue box.
6. On the Manage Blog page in the My Controls section click on Post New Blog.
7. You can now write your first blog! (It can easily be deleted later if you wish.)
8. Choose a topic of your choice then add a title to your blog in the Subject line.
9. Click the view source tick box below the body of the blog. (You won’t see much change after ticking this box, but it is important to do so in order to embed your video successfully). You must tick this box before writing any text in the body of your blog.
10.
11. In a new internet browser window visit http://www.youtube.com and search for a video on the topic of your choice using the search box in the top right corner.
12. Once you have found the video you want, look towards the right of the video screen and you will see another box with the embed code.
13. Copy the embed code and paste it into the body of your blog.
14. You can also select who is able to view your blog.
· Public - Anyone can read your post.
· Diary - Only you can read your post (you can use this like a diary).
· Friends - Only your MySpace "Friends" can read your post.
· Preferred List - Only those on your Preferred List can read your post (Note for future reference: If your MySpace profile is set to be viewable by your friends only, you will need to ensure that the people in your preferred list are on your friends list, otherwise they will be unable to view your blog. To add someone to your Preferred list: Manage blog > My preferred list > Find user to be added to your preferred list. Then search for the person you want to add.)
15. Note: the Subject of all of your blogs will always show on your profile page regardless of their privacy setting.
16. Click Preview and Post.
17. Click Post Blog.
18. You have now created your first blog using MySpace! You can go back and edit this blog if you wish.
b) Create a blog using Blogger™
Why use Blogger™?
Blogger™ is a blogging service that requires registration but is free of charge to use. The registration process does usually not require more than five minutes to complete, and Blogger™ offers you a range of templates that allow you to quickly set up and publish your blog. It allows you the option to set up a public blog or a private blog, which only you and the people you choose to invite can see. For example, a tutor could set up their own blog and only invite their students to access the blog. This would also allow them to write blogs and set up their own private group that will allow them to have forum discussions. This option of using Web 2.0 and specifically using a blog might be valuable for anyone who cannot afford a learning platform or does not have the time to set up and manage a Moodle.
Setting up and editing your blog on Blogger™
1. Go to http://www.blogger.com and click Create a blog. Follow the registration and set-up process. This process should not take any longer than 5 minutes.
2. When your blog is set up, choose the tab Settings (top row of tabs) and then the tab Permissions (second row of tabs).
3. In the field Blog Readers you can choose if your blog will be accessible for everybody, or if you only want to allow selected people in. Choose the option Only people I choose if you want to use the blog to enhance one of your classes or courses. This way learners would be assured that the blog is private.
4. Click Add Readers.
5. Add the email addresses of the people you would like to invite and click Invite.
6. Click View blog (next to the top row of tabs).
7. On the left hand’s side of your blog you can see your profile. Click View my complete profile > Edit my profile.
8. Edit your profile and then click Save Profile.
9. From the menu that you can see in the top right corner click on Dashboard > View Blog. You can now see what your blog looks like.
10. From the menu that you can see in the top right corner click New Post.
11. Add a title to your new post.
12. Write your post (you can include URLs if you wish). Click Publish Post.
13. Click View Blog.
14. Your blog is now set up. To add further features, choose Customise from the menu in the top right corner of the page.
E-Guides training programme 2007 - 2008