Widgets and Gadgets-HOORAY!!

It has been very exciting to finally upload our first blog posts!!!  Now students are understanding the process.  We will continue tweaking our blogs as we go along.  The next item on the agenda is adding some widgets and gadgets.  How many? Which ones?  Where should they go?  Why do we need them?  All of these questions are great and will hopefully be answered this coming week.  I will caution you to not get too carried away. Remember- you words are the most important part of your blog!!!  If something is distracting your readers from your words, it may not be a good choice.  We will also be adding labels to your posts.  This is a great way for people to find your blog.  At the end of the week you will help create a rubric for the design components of your blogs.  I want my students to be a part of creating this rubric.  You will use it to help you improve your blog in the next weeks.

I know some of my students are disappointed with the "grade" they received on their first blog post.  Have no fear!   You will continue to create new posts.  You may ask me to evaluate another blog post as a "retake" for this content piece.  We will discuss this during class.

I am so excited to have you finally out there adding to the Web!!!  Have fun and be careful!  Protect that precious digital footprint of yours!

We are here for a very short week and some of my students will not be having class at all!!!  Those of you going on your team trip to the Cape Cod Regional Technical School please enjoy and pay attention.  You are the consumers and are shopping for the best educational opportunity for you!  Make sure you ask some good questions.  Let me know what technology you notice there.  For those of you who will be sitting in the lab this week, we will be finishing up the design of your blog.  I would like everyone to have their blogs designs “locked up” if possible when we return from Thanksgiving Break.  Please don’t think you will get it perfect right away.  Your blog will grow with you.
Those of you traveling this break; please be careful.  I hope you all find some time to relax and enjoy family time during this break.  Remember all of the things for which we are thankful!  I am thankful for the opportunity to learn from my students every day! 

 Happy Thanksgiving!

 

http://www.123rf.com/photo_9944860_thanksgiving-background-with-random-layout-of-thanksgiving-words.html

Another Crazy Week

It is another crazy week at BIS.  We did not have school on Monday in honor of our nation’s veterans.  I hope you all took some time to reflect on how lucky we are to live in the United States with all of our freedoms and realize many men and women have made huge sacrifices so we can enjoy these freedoms.  There were many events honoring these men and women on Cape Cod over the long weekend:  Veterans Events on Cape Cod.

It is hard to believe next week will only be a two day week due to our Thanksgiving Break.  WOW!!!  November is flying by so quickly.  Have no worries; if you have missed any classes due to school not being in session you will get caught up soon.  Everyone will look at BPS Commenting Guidelines this week.  Last year I found a great resource for commenting.  Please check it out on my “virtual” twin, Virtual 231’s post, “Beginning Blogging.”  There are some great “comment starters” in this post.  You will create some “paper comments” using post it notes to place on your classmates’ “paper posts.”  I will be assessing your paper posts and looking carefully at your comments.  Please be sure to check the BPS Commenting Guidelines as you are creating your comments.  You will have an opportunity to read your classmate’s comments before turning in your “paper posts.”    

Please remember I am making sure you are ready to go in to the “deep end of the pool.”  I am going to be sending you there with your “swimmies” on, but you are getting ready to swim that way soon!! 

Getting Started

You will be creating a “paper post” during class this week.  You will create your first post on a Google doc;  so you will be able to edit it and make it as perfect as possible before uploading to your blog.  You will be responding to the following prompt which I found on Melissa Ford's Blog:

“If you had to get locked in some place (book store, amusement park, movie set, recording studio, sports stadium, etc) overnight alone, where would you choose to be locked in?”

Please create a Google doc and title it, “First Blog Post.”  Be sure to put your name and ILT# on the top of this document.   Then you will respond to the above prompt on this doc.  As you are working on this post, be sure to share your reasons for why you would choose this place.  Also describe what you would do during the night in this place.  It would great if you could use a hyperlink in your post.   Maybe you could put a link to the place (ie Six Flags) or a similar site.  It would be great if you could find an image to include in your post.  Be sure to cite this image properly.  If you need help with any of this, just ask.  Once you have finished your “post” you will need to check it with your BPS Blogging Guidelines. I will let you know when to print this doc.  You will be sharing this "paper post" with me and your classmates during class next week when we practice "commenting" using post it notes.  This is one of my favorite classes. 

Once you have finished your "paper post" you will be creating an “About Me” for your blog.  Please create a second Google doc and title it, “About Me.”  Read a couple of the sample “About Me’s” below before creating your own.  
Please check out the helpful hints for this assignment.

Sample “About Me’s”:

All About Me Samples- slide share of very unique “About Me’s”

Abi’s Blog

Jarrod’s Blog

Lakin’s Blog (this is a blog created using Google Blogger-what you will be using)

Reminder:  Be sure to check this doc for spelling and grammar. Then be sure you have "shared" it with me by dragging it in to your ILT folder.  I hope you have a lot of fun with this activity!!  You are getting very close to giving back to the web and sharing your thoughts and ideas with an enormous audience.  I am very excited for all of you!