#4 Blog and Tell 10/21/09

Our goal for this week is to develop your confidence and understanding on how to navigate and add content to your individual blogs while getting a better sense of how you can use your blog learning space in your classroom on a regular basis.

Keep in mind, soon we will be adding videos, powerpoint presentations, photo slideshows and more to your blog space.
__________________________________________________________________

A. We will use this space to connect about our peers blogs:

1. Please comment on 1-2 teachers individual blogs

*Format to locate a teachers blog is:

http://www.DSMSLastNameOfTeacher.Blogspot.com Middle School Teachers

http://www.DSHSLastNameOfTeacher.Blogspot.com High School Teachers

2. Please include the name of the teacher(2) you reviewed and the subject he/she teaches

3. Please comment on something you liked on the blog (For example: a link, a picture, post, gadget, etc.)

4. Please share a positive recommendation or suggestion for him or her

B. Please reply to at least one comment in our discussion

# 3 "To-Do" 10/14/09:

Congratulations Bloggers!

You are all doing a fabulous job with staying connected online. Over the last few weeks we have been able to use this platform for sharing ideas and resources without email. We have also been trying to utilize and understand the difference of face-to-face support vs. online.

It also appears that we are turning the corner to thinking beyond our course and how we can begin using this new concept with our students. BRAVO!

Over the next week or so, we will kick your class blog "up-a-notch" to make it personally reflect your subject area as well as your teaching style.
_____________________________________________________________________
To Do Checklist:

1. Under the Customize or Layout tab of your blog, add 1 "Link List" gadget. You will need to provide a heading for the link list. Include in this link list at least 3 links your students can use as a resource to your classroom/curriculum.

2. Under the Customize or Layout tab of your blog, add 2 "Picture" gadgets that will make the overall presence of your blog reflect your subject or teaching style. These can be pictures that you have personally taken from your classroom or related projects. They can also be taken from any additional picture source online such as Google or PicSearch for example.

3. Under the Customize or Layout tab of your blog, you can now rearrange the order of these gadgets at anytime. Please practice by dragging and placing your gadgets in the order as you will want them to appear on your blog. (These are the rectangular boxes under "Add a Gadget")

4. Please note while adding a few gadgets, there are 20 Basic Gadgets, there are 11 Featured Gadgets, there are 6 Most Popular Gadgets and 465 More Gadgets....we will be taking a look at these other gadgets later in this course. However, feel free to experiment with them at anytime. I recommend the Poll Gadget as well as the Daily Calendar Gadget under More...

5. Add a new post to your blog that connects to what you are currently working on in class with your students. After you title this post, use the above toolbar to bold and italicize text. If there is an additional source or link you can embed in this post, please use the "insert link" tool as well. Another helpful tool to use as a final check is the built-in spell checker.

Once you have completed entering your text in this post, use the "add image" icon/tool to upload an appropriate photo or two within the post. Practicing aligning 1 photo to the left and align a 2nd photo to the right.

If you want comments to this post, be sure to select directly under the post "Post Options-Allow". If you do not want comments, select "Don't Allow, show existing."
______________________________________


*This post will be open for comments, questions and reflections, however they are not required. Over the next few weeks, spend some time working and personalizing your blog for you and your students.