Manaiakalani learners (young and adult) have personal blogs as a supported online space to:
Web 1.0: 1989 to 2004
People learned to use the Internet passively, consuming content. We ‘surfed’ static pages and hyperlinks. This is the mindset that most 15+ year olds have when using the Internet. ‘We’ learned to treat the Internet like a vast library or repository of information (late 2oth century).
Web 2.0 - 2004 to today
People learned to actively create digital content on the Internet. Interact, create, share and collaborate online. Web pages are easier to use. Social media grows. This is the mindset that most under 15 year olds have when using the internet. ‘They’ learn to treat the internet like a social extension of their being (early 21st century).
Digital technologies have enabled human beings to experience connection 24/7 and in ways never imagined by previous generations - and still difficult for most people to imagine. Shifting our thinking to critically embrace rather than reject digital connection and sharing to support our learners and ourselves to engage effectively in the world they/we live in: this is the implication of sharing in digitally immersive, future-focused learning environments.
Web 3.0 - today and into the future
The rise of artificial intelligence prompts the question - what makes humans unique? What skills are needed in a world where biology and digital technology are fused? What will our student’s reality be like in a world where digital technologies are growing exponentially?
Blogging enables making connections between:
Areas to consider:
“I’m a blogger.
Come and read my blog.
Leave me comments.”
There are millions of blogs on the internet
Blogging enables making connections between:
Whanaungatanga
Engage your audience by welcoming them and communicating a sense of connection.
I get no connection, shared experiences, or sense of belonging here.
Move along...
Purpose
Ensure audience can identify the purpose of the blog when landing on it.
I am looking for recipes. This is clearly not what I want.
Move along...
Identity
Ensure audience can identify the author(s), location, and age-appropriate information eg names, about me/us.
I have no idea who is authoring this blog, or where they are from. Move along...
Remove access barriers
Remove barriers to viewing the blog.
Remove barriers to commenting on blog.
I need a password.
Move along...
Mobile friendly
I can’t see this content on my tablet, my phone, my watch.
Too hard to view.
Move along...
Network
Get out there and read other people’s blogs.
That is the starting place.
No-one comes
to my blog :(
Comment
YOU comment on other people’s blogs.
“Positive, thoughtful, helpful” goes a long way!
Be proactive and
practice ako.
Make the first move...
Champion the bloggers and blogs who are sharing quality content via your networks and social media.
Threaded conversations
Tick the “Notify me” box when you leave a comment to continue the conversation.
Receive an alert when someone responds
Respond to comments
Reply to comments on YOUR blog.
Truck over to their blog and interact there.
Acknowledge EVERY person who bothers to leave a comment
Digital footprint
Leave a link back to YOUR blog when you comment.
Spread your link around
Replace the RED with the URL you want to direct people to:
<A HREF="myblogurl.html">My Web Page</A>
Replace the BLUE with the words you want to display.
Content
Content is king!
Some people with really plain blogs have lots of visitors. They blog stuff people want to read!
No-one comes
to my blog :(
Activity
Engage your audience by posting regularly.
Post purposefully and with pride in your work/mahi.
Nothing happening here.
Move along...
Eye catching
Visually appealing. Attract attention.
Use sisomo.
This looks boring.
Move along...
Point of difference
Maximise the connection factors you have available - be a proud kiwi / [your place]
Make ‘Google Search’ work in your favour
Labels
Use the labels feature in a systematic and concise way.
Make ‘Google Search’ work in your favour
Keywords
Use keywords in your posts:
eg ‘Manaiakalani’ is frequently searched - use it
Make ‘Google Search’ work in your favour
Use text
Posts need text to be searchable.
A movie or a slide deck embedded with no supporting text is unlikely to catch the eye.
Make ‘Google Search’ work in your favour
Use standard English
Posts need standard English to be searchable.
iz simpl! jst typ n yor SMS, TXT o ch@ lNgo & Lt transL8it! cvert it 2 pln eng
Make
‘Google Search’ work in your favour
Blog Layout
Of course personal choice and expressing your personality is important. If you want an audience you might have to think about what THEY want.
No-one comes
to my blog :(
Design principles
If people can’t READ it then you need to change it.
Font
Colours
Layout
Landing screen
The important and engaging content needs to be on the landing screen:
eg Blog Archive - what you post about.
Before I scroll, what do I see?
Bling
Will this slow down the performance of my blog? If it takes ages to load your laughing cat .gif or sparkly skin, visitors won’t hang around...
Make sure it adds to your blog
Social Media
Use all the connections you have.
Spread the word...
Retweet and like other people’s (great) posts.
Join Twitter chats.
Include your blog URL in your profile.
Tweet
your posts
This could backfire, depends on how you approach your Facebook account.
IF your followers are educators
Google+
Share your posts to your circles and/or to the public.
Save the very best to post to a
G+ Community.
Share posts
Add your blog or your class blog to your email signature.
Signature
Tracking
Analyse your audience by using gadgets and analytics tools. There is lots of data available.