Collaborative Blogging

Blogger is a blog-publishing platform and part of Google Apps. Individuals can create an individual blog or collaborate on a multi-author blog. Blogger has recently undergone some design changes, which directly affect the look of the Dashboard as well as some common processes used to blog. The current default when setting up a blog is Blogger’s classic look, for usability purposes all users should switch to Blogger’s new look.
I have recently been tasked with giving a Workshop at DePauw University for the Galapagos Winter Term 2012 course. This course will be utilizing a collaborative blog in which the Instructors are assigned the Owner role and the students are given the Author role. I have developed a set of instructions for this Workshop that specifically address how to collaborate on a Blog with students in mind.

As always, if you are considering using blogging in the classroom, refer to the Instructor Example that I have created. Below are the instructions. If anyone is interested in a pdf version for printing purposes, feel free to contact me. Please attribute me if you utilize these instructions for your classroom, but feel free to tweak as needed!

Accepting an Invite

1. Login to a Google Mail account
2. Open the message entitled You have been invited to contribute to "Title of Blog"
3. Click the URL in the message
4. Click here (Note: Blogger will prompt individuals to sign into Google again.)
5. Complete the Email and Password fields, then click Sign in. (Note: Type the entire email address, including “@depauw.edu” in the Email field.)

Create a Blogger Account (Note: These steps can be skipped if you have previously set up a Blogger account.)

1. Complete the Display name field
2. Click the selection box associated with Acceptance of Terms
3. Click Continue
4. On the Blogger Dashboard, click Try the updated Blogger interface (Note: new Google accounts are automatically opted into the new interface)

Create a Blog Post

1. Login to Blogger
2. To create a new post from the Blogger dashboard, click the new post button associated with the desired blog (the orange pencil button)
3. To create a new post from the selected blog’s dashboard either:
1. Click New Post
2. Click the new post button in the top toolbar
4. Compose the Post

1. Type the title into the Post title field
2. Type the body content into the provided field (Note: the toolbar is similar to that used in Microsoft Word)
3. To insert a link, click Link
1. Complete the Text to display: field
2. Click the desired link type and insert the URL associated with the link in the field provided
4. To insert a picture, click the image icon

1. Choose the desired retrieval method by clicking on the left options (Upload, From this blog, From Picasa Web Albums, or From a URL
2. Follow any on-screen prompts
3. Select the desired image
4. Click Add selected
5. To insert a video, click the directors clipboard icon
1. Choose the desired retrieval method by clicking on the left options (Upload, From YouTube, My YouTube videos)
2. Follow any on-screen prompts
3. Select the desired video
4. Click Select
6. To insert a jump break, click on the broken page icon
7. Click Post settings, located on the right side of the screen
1. Labels - are words that refer to what the content of the post covers. These also help with the organization of the Blog
2. Schedule - allows a post to publish at a scheduled time
3. Location - allows a location to be added to a post
4. Options - provides advanced posting options
5. Finalize the Post

1. To discard the post, click Close
2. To view the post as it will appear on the blog, click Preview
3. To save the post, click Save
4. To publish the post to the blog, click Publish
6. Add a Google Presentation

1. Login to Google Mail
2. Click Documents, located in the upper left corner
3. Select the desired Google Presentation
4. Click Share -> Publish/embed (Note: A new window will open with the presentation's publishing information; use this page for step 5 & 6)
5. To create a link to the presentation
1. Copy the URL under Your document is publicly viewable at:
2. Navigate to the appropriate blog post and place the cursor at the desired location
3. Click Link
4. Type the desired text in the Text to display: field
5. Past the URL in the provided field
6. Click OK
6. To embed the presentation (Warning: Basic HTML knowledge is vital for this option)
1. Copy the HTML code
2. Navigate to the appropriate blog post
3. Click HTML
4. Paste the HTML code into the desired location

Advanced Options

1. Blog Design
1. On the desired Blog's Dashboard, click Template
2. Click Customize
3. Utilize the options to create the blog's design

• Templates - Determines the overall style and design of the blog
• Background - Determines the background image and overall color scheme of the blog
• Adjust widths - Determines the width of the blog's main column and sidebar
• Layout - Determines the overall layout of the blog
• Advanced - Determines the specific color scheme and text used within the blog. Also provides the ability for CSS to be added to the blog.
4. Once the design is complete, click Apply to Blog
5. To return to the Blog's Dashboard, click Back to Blogger
6. To preview the blog, click View Blog
2. Add a Blog Header
1. On the Blog's Dashboard, click Layout
2. Click Edit in the Header section
3. To upload a header, click Choose File.
1. Select the header file
2. Click Open
4. To choose a header from the web
1. Click the selection option associated with From the web
2. Enter the URL of the header image in the provided field
5. Under the Placement section, select Instead of title and description
6. Click Save



3. Create Pages

1. On the Blog's Dashboard, click Pages
2. To create a new page within Blogger, click New page -> Blank page
1. Complete the Page title field
2. Type the page content into the provided field
3. To discard the post, click Close
4. To view the post as it will appear on the blog, click Preview
5. To save the post, click Save
6. To publish the post to the blog, click Publish
3. To link to an established web address, click Web address
1. Complete the Page title field
2. Copy and paste the desired URL into the Web address (URL) field
3. Click Save
4. To arrange pages, drag and drop into the desired order
5. Click the Show pages as dropdown box and select the desired display options
6. Click Save arrangement

How I Write

At the beginning of my R519 course we were tasked with reflecting on our writing process and the habits that we maintain. Now that we have come to the end of the Fall 2011 R519 course, we are tasked once again with reflecting on our writing and how the course progressed our writing knowledge. I found it interesting to read my previous reflection while writing my final reflection. There may be some words of wisdom hidden in the depth of these two reflections, not that I claim to be wise (but everyone has their moments!).


Beginning of the Course Reflection

When I first considered reflecting on my writing technique, the project seemed daunting. I do not think I have ever really sat down and considered my writing process. I have always known that I function more effectively under time constraints. I think the time constraints allow me to focus, rather than distract myself with the multitude of tasks that seem incredibly interesting at the time. Needless to say, I am a bit of a procrastinator. I cannot say that being a procrastinator has aided me in any way. This is one habit that I should have changed a long time ago. I should consider setting mini deadlines or checkpoints along the way, so that I cannot procrastinate to the point of rushing through an assignment or paper. I attempted to reflect on how I prepared myself for writing this reflection, and classified my activities into different types of habits.

Habit 1: Procrastination

I originally viewed this writing assignment on Thursday afternoon. I opened up my Oncourse dashboard, clicked on the assignment tab and looked at the computer screen blankly for several minutes. I then proceeded to the course’s website and opened up the reading that goes along with this reflection. I skimmed over the reading twice without really reading two consecutive words. I then decided that the reflection would be easier to complete when I was at home on my laptop and promptly logged out of everything. I believe I checked Oncourse Friday and Saturday without any headway. Today, Sunday, I sat down to complete the reflection. I obviously could not procrastinate any longer, so I read the additional reading, which was extremely helpful, and began to type out my thoughts as I read.

Habit 2: Fidgeting

While this may go along with procrastination, I feel fidgeting is different in some ways. Situate, resituate, and settle on a completely different arrangement is my typical motto. I usually prep my surroundings by setting up my laptop close to the couch, turning the television on with the volume set close to mute, gathering all the materials, and logging onto Pandora with my headset on for some Jack Johnson mixed music. However, even though the setting is typically consistent, the process of arranging everything borders on hilarity. I will use today as an example. When I was getting ready to complete this first journal assignment I turned the television on low, sat in front of my laptop and... nope! I got back up and rearranged the pillows on the couch. I moved the laundry from the washer to the dryer, which was the procrastination sneaking back in. I then proceeded to have a slice of bologna and a glass of tea. After completing all of these important tasks I returned to my spot on the couch and... still not ready! I rearranged the pillows on my couch, hunted around for my headset, began playing music to drown out the chaos of my fiancé’s music and the barking dogs and finally started writing.

Habit 3: Over-analyzing

I have a tendency to critique one sentence excessively, or I continually write and delete sentences. The previous sentence took five times to write without by fingers inching towards the backspace button. Rather than continuing with a thought, I will return to previous paragraphs to critique the verb tense agreement and the use of the word “I”. I believe I over-analyze the most when I hit a bump along the writing path. Once I motor over the bump I am usually productive for ten to twenty minutes. I am not sure how this habit was initially created. The habit does give me a chance to think about how I want the writing to progress without staring blankly at the laptop screen. I can usually get a sense of the feel of the information being provided and the direction I am attempting to go in by critiquing the previously written paragraphs.

I would benefit from being able to replace my habit of procrastinating with a more productive habit. I really like the idea of setting personal deadlines, rather than relying on assignment deadlines. I may find that I produce higher quality writing if I modify or replace my procrastination. The fidgeting is also a tiresome habit. I would love to gather my work area, sit down, and simply begin writing. My current routine takes about twenty minutes to complete before I actually begin writing. Lastly, I think that my tendency to over-analyze sentences and writing may be partially beneficial. It would be nice to learn a less irritating habit to replace the obsessive writing and deleting that I currently participate in. However, out of the three habits I immediately noticed over-analyzing is the least annoying. In the spirit of including beneficial habits with negative ones, I will say that I am very determined once I begin my writing! I also have the ability to focus well, despite the noisy or hectic surroundings I might find myself in. I suppose I have to give credit to my family for this skill, since I was one of six children. I think listening to music allows me to activate a creative section of my mind that I am unable to fully tap into in a quiet room. I do not have any evidence to back this up, so it is simply a feeling.

End of the Course Reflection

A fledgling Instructional Technologist

I have learned many things during this course, both about my own personal habits and techniques that may help improve my writing. The first writing that I tackled in this course was to identify the habits I currently hold in an effort to tackle them head-on. The three habits I identified when beginning this course were: procrastination, fidgeting, and over-analyzing. Procrastination and over-analyzing were my two main issues that I wanted to tackle. I believe my habit of fidgeting is a result of my love of procrastination. Through the techniques that I have learned and the assignments completed, I began to believe my habit of procrastination was rooted in unpreparedness.

Taking chances...

I viewed my writing skills as if they were a form of artistic expression. (Artists, read the rest before you pounce!) While this comparison is extremely valid, I should have realized that there was a truth hiding in my own comparison. Inspiration, while essential to any artistic expression, is only as beneficial as the time spent in preparation. A painter would not approach a canvas with Crayola crowns. Instead, they would spend time meticulously choosing colors and the media most appropriate for the expression they wanted. In my graphic design work, I would never simply open a picture in Photoshop and apply ever filter possible for a “cool look”. Nor would I take the picture and begin plopping items into InDesign or Illustrator at random. Instead I would carefully consider the composition of the document and the image that I wanted to portray as well as the information that needed to be delivered…

Making connections...

This class allowed something unique and amazing to happen, a connection! I was able to consider that the reason for my Procrastination was lack of preparation. The more I contemplated this, the validity became clear. Authors do not simply begin writing a novel without first establishing the context in which the story will be taking place, developing the characters, and possibly having an idea of the overall storyline. Why would I be able to approach any kind of writing without first having the same information? The concept made even more sense when I considered the functionality of my procrastination. My habits were set that I would begin writing as if a lightning bolt would strike me with all of the information needed for the assignment. I would eventually come to a point at the end of the assignment where I had a complete assignment that was exceptional work… I forgot the painful procrastination and fidgeting that went into this work. All of the procrastination and fidgeting was occurring when I reached a point that I was not prepared to tackle (insert fidgeting and procrastination or should I say reflection?). After learning writing techniques that are useful and functional (many that I was already using for Graphic Design and other work) my procrastination and fidgeting decreased dramatically.

Spreading her wings...

I still over-analyze while I am writing. In fact, I just deleted the preceding sentence and change the wording several times. This is my writing and thinking style. However, I have learned that while I am writing a rough draft, it is a ROUGH draft which means it is not meant to be perfect. The final draft will come after some reflection and feedback from my peers. Another thing that I have learned in this process is that feedback is exceptionally important when writing instructions. I have appreciated this information as well as my newfound respect for awareness of printable instructions! During this semester I had many new things occurring in my life. I was married on October 15, accepted a new position on October 24, and moved in November! I am now an Instructional Technologist at DePauw University and have been aiding in the creation and review of instructional materials as they make a move to a new website and create a Knowledge Base for the campus. I cannot stress enough how beneficial this course has been in developing my instructional writing skills, or how beneficial the feedback I have gotten has been for the growth of my personal writing.