SETTING UP YOUR BLOGS

Because all your work for me this year is written, I would like all of your work for me this year  to be in blog form.

A blog is simply an online space in which you can write articles or 'posts'. These posts can contain imagery and enable the embedding of video and audio links as well. You'll be able, via blogs, to not just complete the work I need to assess for you to gain your qualification but also add any of your own posts about things you've seen or are into. Your blogs must be personal to you and I'd like you to also spend time making them look good and suitable for what it is you have to say. Blogging is something EVERYONE I know working in the media does, and is fundamentally a much easier way of working than writing word-files all the time.

Crucially blogging means you won't end up with a big messy harddrive full of indeterminate files. For you and me it'll be easier to know that all your work is gettable and editable online.

 For all your other teachers it'll be different, but for me, I want pretty much EVERYTHING blogged.

Today I want you to set up two blogs. One will contain all your work for the unit you'll be working on from now until Xmas.  It's where I'll see your work, where you'll spend time finessing/perfecting it, and perhaps also where I'll be giving you feedback and guidance.

The other blog will be for your own work and more personal to you - so a place for hosting things you've made, games/sites/animations etc, opinions, pieces of writing that aren't for assessment etc.

So let's set them up for you. Simple -stage process. Firstly we'll set up your personal blog. This will give you a feel for how to set a blog up, and also give you a crack at designing/laying out your blog. You can then do the same process for your Media-Work blog that will be used for assignments and assessment.

1. If you have a google account go straight to stage 2. If you don't have a google account get one by clicking HERE and going through the process. If you have problems setting this up, give us a shout and I'll give you a hand.

2. Once you've got a google account make sure you're logged into it and the go to blogger.com
    This kind of screen should come up. Click on 'Create Your Blog'

3. Once you've clicked on 'Create Your Blog' you'll get a screen that looks like this 

4. Give your blog a name. And make it interesting or at least unique to you. Personalise the name so that it gives a flavour of what your interests/passions are. All your posts on your blog will have different titles but your blog has one name that you should stick with so take some time giving it a name that you're happy with. Simply calling it 'My Blog' won't do! Think of favourite lines from movies, favourite lyrics, just anything that will be unique to you and you feel happy with. 

5. Your blog will also need a web-address, the address people will type in when they want to read your blog. Think carefully about this as well, perhaps using the name of your blog. A strong name and address will get your blog more visitors and more people also staying and reading. 

6. Now create another blog for your college work.

You are now ready to start posting.