Let’s Make our Blogs Social
What makes you want to use
Social Media?
Why we use edublogs?
But whyyyyy?
Why do we have too...It’s not fair…
Mr/s xx* doesn’t make us!
You’re so mean...
*insert name of any random teacher here who doesn’t know you are using their name in vain!!
A record of learning
Your progress cannot be lost.
You can always easily reflect on your ideas.
You don’t have to worry about crossing stuff out and having a messy page.
When you type, it is proven that you record more ideas, quicker and then usually reflect on them in more depth.
Typing is a real world skill. It used to only be taught to office assistants, but in fact, the quicker and better you can type, the more easy a huge range of tasks in upcoming careers will be.
Other people can comment on your work!
You can gain feedback from people all over the world on the content that you are creating.
Other students can learn from what you are sharing.
Your parents and other teachers in the school can comment on your work.
Another proven point; if you SHARE your work, and are prepared to present it for other people to understand it, you WILL do a better job, and make better connections!
Sharing well is not something that happens overnight. You have to practise to get good at it. Care about your words, your impact and your own learning digitally. Reflect on what people are commenting on.
More food for thought
Would you refuse to do work in your exercise book?
“Miss, I don’t blog!”
=
“Miss, I don’t work/write/draw/think/process/decide/create”
[insert any other adjective that describes recording and processing your learning].
So, why are you here?
An interesting blog?
Check out the Cybersmart Challenge Blog.
What do you notice?
What do you like about it?
How was it created?
Why do you think it is effective?
Creating a post that is MORE than average
Side by side images
<br>
<table><tbody>
<tr><td>photoa
</td><td>photo b
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<br>
Following html adds an invisible table in your blog post to position two images side by side
Create and Embed an Interactive Poster
An option for creating an interactive poster for a blog post is to use a Google Slide.
Using a Google Slide, embedded in a blog post, enables hyperlinks to remain active.
This option includes removing the Google Slide navigation bar.
E.g. <iframe height="600" src="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16G6Y3NB2QcLGiQVWhUG890Xt_Be6zMzeCU3Hb7SjOI0/preview?rm=minimal" width="400">
</iframe>
/preview?rm=minimal
Embed a Slide Deck without the black bars on the side
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="380" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRQ-3N7KGUE_GeS2iJPgW7vZaByCEHt6IncNIx9LpNsteBuhJsck-bIb6j6l3jWiUoe1lX5Xd2rzeLO/embed?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="640"></iframe></div>
Or Use another platform to create and share…
The following slides are for those still on blogger.
Changing how a blog looks
Create a Header to replace your Blog Title
Template: Size is 1200 x 300 px. You are welcome to make a copy and repurpose.
Check the width of your blog: Theme - Customise - Adjust Widths
Centre a Blog Title or Header
If you create and upload your your own Title Header this is how you centre the header in blogger.
1. Log in to your Blogger account.
2. Select Theme from the menu on the left.
3. Click Customise button.
4. Click Advanced.
5. Scroll downward and select Add CSS.
6. Enter this code in the text box.
#header-inner img {margin: 0 auto !important;}
#header-inner {text-align: Center ;}
7. Click Apply to Blog button to save the changes.
Blogger Background
We have a standard blog template which includes a body layout with three columns and specific gadgets to support our cybersmart learning. However one option for personalising your blog is to create your own background with student art - example. Take photos of the art and organise using a Google Drawing. Download a PNG and upload as a background for your blog. See screencast above. Learners use images they have created and upload their background to Google Drive as only teachers can edit backgrounds as administrators. Recommend setting expectations of your learners before they can personalise their blog background e.g. Evidence of Cybersmart Learning and Blogging.
Add a hyperlink to a blog comment
Including a hyperlink to another blog or online reference can be helpful when you leave a comment. Rather than copying and pasting the URL which can often be ambiguous and is not clickable turn your URL into a hyperlink that displays as meaningful text.
<a href="https://support.google.com/docs/answer/97447">Insert text</a>
Tip: If the blogger has shared something that makes a connection for you and you have shared something similar on your blog post include a hyperlink to your blog post.
Click the title of your blog post to display the direct link to the post. Copy and paste into the html above for your blog comment