Blogging

toc =What is a blog? How does it differ from a wiki?=
 * Blog** is short for weblog and is a place to write "posts" which which people can comment on. It is generally used as an online journal and is reflective in nature. Posts can only be edited by someone logged into the blog. In a personal blog this would be the author but in a class situation this may mean any of your students who have the password. Hence, protocols are required.
 * Wikis** are more factual in nature and anyone who belongs to the wiki can edit what other people have written. It is used more for recording the findings of individual or collaborative projects. This wiki, for example, in a place for all teachers at MWPS to contribute their knowledge.

=Where can I see some examples?= One of the best places to start is to ask one of the many teachers at MWPS who have played with all sorts of thigs. Unfortunately you'll ned their username and password to have a look but it's well worth it. People who have been going for a while are the Preps, Grade 1s and Sharen and Heather. [|5/6C Coolaroo South] [|5/6 somewhere!!!] [|5/6 at Herne Hill] [|Collaborative](grade 1 – has been done collaboratively with kids) [|Journal]every fortnight [|Grade 1] [|Information]and teacher posts with kids commenting - a great way to start || [|A Book Blog] [|Book Week] [|Berwick Lodge Grades 5 and 6] [|The BFG] [|Berwick Lodge] with movies - easy to do Another [|Berwick Lodge] [|Grade 2] [|Global teacher]- trwal around here and you'll be inspired! || =How do I create one?= Global student and global teacher are merging. Here is the [|direct link]. All you need is your email address and an idea of what you want to call it!
 * [|3/4D Berwick Fields]

=What vocab do I need?=
 * Post** - a piece of writing/journal entry which also includes a heading or title
 * Dashboard** - the "brains" where you can change the look, add posts, change security etc
 * Comment** - a piece of writing attached to a post, commenting on it!
 * Widget** - -an add in like a calendar, search function, links bar etc
 * Theme** - the general look of your blog which you can change
 * Site admin** - access the dashboard
 * Meta widget** - the widget which had a lonk to log in, log out, or access the site admin if you are already logged in.
 * Tag** - add to a post so you can see all related tags. eg if it's about maths, type maths in the tages box. You can then search for all the posts about maths. You can give a post more than one tag.
 * Upload** - get a file from your computer and store it on the internet (in the blog) for you to insert into your post.

=What might I do with it?= The attached word document will give you some ideas - the world's your oyster!

=Download a help sheet= =Hints and tips= =Where do I get snazzy bits and pieces?= You may need someone to show you how to insert the code for some of them I would suggest you set up a gmail account so that when you register for some of these things the "junk mail" goes there. Actually it can be quite good stuff but you might not wantr it clogging up up you inbox.
 * Set up you protocols before you let the kids start.This sheet has been adapted from other schools [[file:Blogging Guidelines.doc]]
 * Make sure you collect permission notes!!!
 * You don't need to reduce the size of photos to upload them. You can do that in the blog by selectin g the photos size you want
 * Some movies are too large
 * Only upload what you want to use. If you fill your library with photos you don't put into posts you'll just be wasting your available space
 * If you uload a group of photos, insert them as a gallery. It's much neater.
 * If you want to add cations, do it before you insert the gallery because it's a pain to do afterwards.
 * Look for web 2.0 tools: cool tools for schools
 * fodey - []
 * glogster - []
 * wall wisher - []
 * sparkle text [] or [] There are heaps of them opy the code for these
 * Cool text [] and[| http://www.textspace.net/lcd_text] Save the Image and upload for these
 * Tuxpi - photo effects - []
 * Scribble maps - []
 * Avatar makers - []
 * Online timeine maker - []
 * Slide shows - animoto - [] and smilebox []
 * Insert a voting form which tallies your results [] You'll need to make an account
 * And don't forget Wordle, Big Huge Labs