{"id":2318,"date":"2020-02-07T06:53:19","date_gmt":"2020-02-07T11:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/?p=2318"},"modified":"2023-03-13T08:41:21","modified_gmt":"2023-03-13T12:41:21","slug":"edtech-bytes-using-blogs-and-blogger-in-the-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/edtech-bytes-using-blogs-and-blogger-in-the-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Blogs and Blogger in the Classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; use_background_color_gradient=&#8221;off&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #666666; font-size: 14px;\">Blogging with students can add a lot to a college classroom. As a project-based learning tool, it can serve as a forum for applying concepts from class, practicing disciplinary-specific writing skills, and has the advantage of being a published, shareable resource that students can use on a resume, or to support professional portfolios. Whether students are creating their own unique blogs, or you have a class blog that students are adding to, blogs can help you meet a variety of teaching and learning goals.\u00a0 Blogging can:<\/span><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li>provide a forum to create and publish for an authentic (public) audience<\/li>\n<li>be a vehicle for disciplinary (or cross-disciplinary) writing<\/li>\n<li>promote dialog across student groups or larger global audiences<\/li>\n<li>create opportunities to model and apply information literacy and digital citizenship skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Need more convincing, check out these resources:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Vanderbilt University&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cft.vanderbilt.edu\/guides-sub-pages\/teaching-with-blogs\/\" data-blogger-escaped-target=\"_blank\">Teaching with Blogs<\/a>\u00a0page<\/li>\n<li>Teaching with Technology Hub&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/teachingwithtechnologyhub.weebly.com\/student-blogging.html\" data-blogger-escaped-target=\"_blank\">Student Blogging<\/a>\u00a0page<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The following instructions will walk you, step-by-step, on how to get up in running with Blogger (a tool within Google GSuite), to get you or your students publishing content in no time!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Creating &amp; Publishing to your Blog<\/strong><\/h1>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Step 1: Sign up for a Blogger Account<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, visit <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/blogger.com\"><b>http:\/\/blogger.com<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or Google \u201cBlogger\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/JE5btLVsYYLcBoc-GnUGfS2IwcXL2P5hTNE3VQKgQy7DYCf0BFNooHmjhasXPZ29AMUjuC3uBoYQdrVPw1pPcXdP0Dfewl0g_jLWZQzxqvNecIFQfIRNLFdbILATfX2rV2FKYJoN\" alt=\"log into blogger.com\" width=\"957\" height=\"639\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then, <\/span><b>sign in<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with your @maine.edu email address<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2344 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-284x300.jpg\" alt=\"log in with maine.edu option\" width=\"284\" height=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 26px; color: #333333;\">Step 2: Create a New Blog<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Click the <\/span><b>New Blog<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> button.\u00a0 This should open a <\/span><b>Create a new blog window<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enter the title of your blog (note: you may have to try a few names to find one that is available)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enter the address for your blog (example: myawesomeblog.blogspot.com).\u00a0 Note, that unless you have your own domain, your address will have to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">end in <\/span><\/i><b>.blogspot.com. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the sake of your class projects, there is no need to buy a domain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scroll down to pick a template you think compliments your blog topic<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Click <\/span><b>Create blog!<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2345 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-1-300x282.jpg\" alt=\"Name your blog and choose a template\" width=\"300\" height=\"282\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Step 3 Create a Blog Post<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Click the <\/span><b>New post button<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to open a content editor<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2346 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-2-300x141.jpg\" alt=\"Create a new post\" width=\"300\" height=\"141\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-2-300x141.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-2.jpg 469w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Add a post title<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2347 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-3-300x82.jpg\" alt=\"Create a post title\" width=\"300\" height=\"82\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Click into the document and enter your content.\u00a0 Explore the basic editing tools in the content editor to set headings, adjust font size and color, add list features, images and hyperlinks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2348 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-4-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"use the simple content editor ribbon to format your content\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Step 4: Manage your post settings<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the right-hand side of the screen is the <\/span><b>Post Settings <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">use the following options to control how and when your post is published, as well as how readers will be able to interact with it:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li>\u00a0<b style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Labels <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">allows you to add labels, or keywords, that are searchable by your reader<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li><strong style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Schedule<\/strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">allows you to publish immediately, or set a time in the future to publish<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Permalink<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">, your post URL address will auto-populate with your post title, if you wish to create a custom URL, enter that here.\u00a0 Save this link&#8211;this will be the link to your published blog.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Location<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"> setting are *optional*<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Options<\/strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">lets you choose whether or not to allow reader comments on your post.\u00a0 You can also choose some HTML formatting commands, but the standard default settings are fine for most.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2349 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-5-132x300.jpg\" alt=\"Update your post option settings and schedule for publishing\" width=\"132\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-5-132x300.jpg 132w, https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-5.jpg 280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 132px) 100vw, 132px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Step 5: Preview &amp; Publish<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your content is complete, and you are finished customizing your settings, you may wish to see what your finished Blog looks like with the <\/span><b>Preview<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> button, or you may wish to <\/span><b>Save<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a draft and <\/span><b>Close <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to finish another time.\u00a0 When you are satisfied with your content, click <\/span><b>Publish <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(your URL will now be shareable and viewable!)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once posted you may be able to stop here, depending on your Blog assignment parameters&#8211;but you may wish to continue on for more customization and style options.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2350 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-6-300x101.jpg\" alt=\"Choose to publish, save or preview you post\" width=\"300\" height=\"101\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-6-300x101.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-6.jpg 473w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Customizing Your Look &amp; Feel<\/strong><\/h1>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Step 6: Controlling your Layout<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that your Blog is published, you may wish to control how people view and interact with your page.\u00a0 You choose a <\/span><b>Theme <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the beginning, but there are other viewing options you can control in the <\/span><b>Layout<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> page:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2351 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-7-300x157.jpg\" alt=\"In your blog managemnt screen, choose \" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within the <\/span><b>Layout <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">screen, you will see a variety of basic Blogger page sections, and tools, which will always include: your <\/span><b>Header<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><b> Featured Post<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Blog Posts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Popular Posts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and a <\/span><b>Footer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0 On the left-hand side of each Page Body Feature, there is an eye icon.\u00a0 If it has a slash through it, it means this page page is not visible&#8211;no slash means this element is visible on your published Blog.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2352 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-8-300x148.jpg\" alt=\"The layout screen options\" width=\"300\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the right-hand side of each element is a pencil icon.\u00a0 You can click into each of this to control the visibility, as well as make any editing, color and style changes that relate to the element (see this example of the \u201cHeading\u201d options):<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2353 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-9-300x242.jpg\" alt=\"When the edit button is clicked, more settings options are avlaible, as in this Headings example\" width=\"300\" height=\"242\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will also note that there may be a variety of Sidebar <\/span><b>Gadgets.\u00a0 Gadgets <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are simply extra tools that may add value to your readers experience.\u00a0 You can add tools to link to <\/span><b>About Me<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> content, link to your<\/span><b> Labels<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (or tags), or you can <\/span><b>Add a Gadget<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that compliments your Blog theme or purpose.\u00a0 You can click the pencil on each Gadget to edit how it behaves, and control its visibility.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium alignnone\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/fjG-oCZj_p1K4hrvnBgIj3SLdBDVo-XNkmMWONqRjbeM5x8lUEiNUnccKvH0kf9zi1BlNQwdSHl_Rhm6YuBIYiAyceHesDO0vvQmjyk9dcGZNo5B_8CuK0Pu6i3SxrlE4cRxcXt4\" alt=\"Gadget menu\" width=\"453\" height=\"344\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To change the background color, click into the Theme Designer link:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium alignnone\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/7IIouF816ZKSfq2zNOJLZcCARhGvBqeW6paCJUDYqvFrlAh_3mITBsUcGEjUV3MSrJUMBkV5xLOmhs7A1eVYAvSqj3Zqdc3mLelau8B2JanWDiUSQLUeALz1d4dSpcBSgFCXWN4y\" alt=\"theme designer option\" width=\"1600\" height=\"236\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Blogger Theme Designer view allows you to quickly review the look of you Blog, and change <\/span><b>Themes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><b>Background <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">colors.\u00a0 Be sure to select easy to read fonts and high-contrast colors.\u00a0 You should also avoid busy patterns in your background, as it makes it hard for your reader to read your content. Don\u2019t forget to <\/span><b>Apply to Blog<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when you have found the settings that you like!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2354 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/02\/unnamed-10-300x146.jpg\" alt=\"change themes, primary colors and fonts in the theme designer.  Don;t forget to \" width=\"300\" height=\"146\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Happy Writing!<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1XWV7NTjvrfUqCufIAPDq-RSOcNwHvIxd3uGWQkuszOA\/edit?usp=sharing\">Need a printable copy of this resource<\/a><\/strong>?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blogging with students can add a lot to a college classroom. As a project-based learning tool, it can serve as a forum for applying concepts from class, practicing disciplinary-specific writing skills, and has the advantage of being a published, shareable resource that students can use on a resume, or to support professional portfolios. Whether students [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":1722,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7608],"tags":[5786,7609,7608,7611],"class_list":["post-2318","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-edtech-bytes","tag-blog","tag-edtech","tag-edtech-bytes","tag-pbl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2318","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2318"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2318\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4757,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2318\/revisions\/4757"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/instructional-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}