First time web 2.0 users: The next step is to set up your very own personal blog to begin recording your thoughts, discoveries and exercises. We recommend that you use Blogger, a popular free online blog hosting service that is extremely easy to use. We also recommend that you use the same login/password details for each of the tasks and including your blog.
Repeat web 2.0 users: Staff may use their previous web 2.0 blog from 2008/2009 - in which case they can skip the set up and move straight on to the first post. Please ensure that you label your posts clearly, e.g. Week 1 : Blogger, Week 2 : Zamzar etc.
Setting up a blog through Blogger.com takes very little time and only requires you to: create an account, name your blog, select your template.
Learning resource:
The very helpful video below is provided by BloggerHelp and includes instructions for creating an account, writing your first post and even how to add an image.
You can even send your blog link to all your friends and family!
Discovery Exercise for first-time users:
1. Create a Gmail account. Gmail is a free webmail service that combines traditional email with Google's search techology. Complete the form and choose a fictitious login and password. Ensure you check the availability of your login name. Note your login name becomes your username.
2. Create a Blogger account, and once again we encourage you to create an anonymous usename. Save the URL address in your favourites.
3. Play around with your blog, select a template and add a test post or two (different colours on your template).
4. Create a Post on your Blog. In approximately 50 words consider: How could you use this in your role? What worked for you? What didn't? What surprised you? what amazed you? How could a library use a blog? What would customers get out of a library blog? Would you promote this to customers? You will be asked to do this each week and the digital services team will check your blog when new posts appear and post comments on your progress.
Discovery Exercise for repeat 2.0-ers:
1. Create a Post on your Blog and tell us: what are your 2.0 expectations this time around? What are your 2.0 fears? How might a public library use a blog? What could our customers expect to see on such a blog?. You will be asked to create a post each week for every exercise. The digital services team will check your blog when new posts appear and comment on your progress.
Your progress so far:
You've almost finished task 1 - don't forget to register your blog :-)
What now?
Register your blog!
