KCLS Learning 2.0
 
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Start a Blog

This lesson will help you set up your own personal blog where can record your thoughts.
 
The great thing about a blog, is it allows you to: 
  • Provide topical and relevant information and resources on a regular basis
  • Recieve feedback and have discussions with your readers
  • Distribute your content more widely
Your blog will be set up using Blogger - a popular free online blog hosting service that is extremely easy to use.
 
Discovery Exercise:  
  1. Go to the Blogger website: www.blogger.com (this will open in a separate window).
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on 'Create Your Blog Now'
  3. This is what you'll see:

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    You'll need to set up a Google Account to use Blogger - follow the instructions and click 'continue.'
    Please note that your display name does not have to be your real name.

  4. Name your blog. This is what you'll see:

    click for a larger version

    Your blog title? Be as creative as you like.
    Your blog URL? The easier to remember, the better. And WRITE THIS DOWN...
  5. Select a Template. This is what you'll see:

    click for larger version
  6. Author and publish your first blog posting. This is the fun part - just click on the 'start posting' link and go...

    click for larger version

    What do you write about? Try something on the theme of Learning 2.0. What do you hope to learn from the program? What do you think about lifelong learning?

But how do you get back to your blog, to add future postings?

  1. Go to your blog (go to http://[your blog name].blogspot.com)
  2. Look to the top right corner of the screen and click on the 'Sign In' link
    (If you've forgotten your blog URL, head to www.blogger.com and continue with the next step)
  3. Look to the top right corner of the screen and click on the 'New Blogger' link
  4. Log in with your Username and Password (these will be tied to the Google account you set up a few minutes ago)
  5. Find your blog on the 'Dashboard' and click on it's 'New Post' link
  6. Blog away...
Once you've logged in you'll also be able to change your blog settings - there's a series of 'Manage' links in your 'Dashboard.'

Should you run into problems and/or would like more information about blogs and using Blogger, take a look at Blogger’s Quick Tutorial - just keep clicking on the 'continue' buttons at the end of next screen to keep going...