Blogging with Your Students:
The Pedagogical Approaches to Using Blogs

A Hands-On Workshop
Presented by Jonathan Goodman

1. If you don’t already have one you will need to create a Google GMail account.
2. Next go to Blogger.com
a. You need your Gmail username and password to log in.
b. Select the “Create a Blog” link.
i. Think up a name for your blog and the URL address.
c. Settings > Basic
i. Title
ii. Description
iii. Add your blog to our listings? – Yes, increases traffic.
iv. Let search engines find your blog? – Yes, increases traffic.
v. Show Quick Editing on your Blog? – Yes, easier to edit.
vi. Show Email Post links? – Yes, increases traffic.
vii. Adult Content? – No, unless you so choose.
viii. Show Compose Mode for all your blogs? – Yes, easier to edit.
ix. Enable transliteration? – Dependant on your audience.
x. Delete Your Blog? – Don’t do this unless you really want to delete.
d. Settings > Publishing
i. Blog*Spot Address - Decide what your URL should be.
ii. Your Domain – Decide what your URL should be.
iii. Use a missing files host? – No
e. Settings > Formatting
i. Show – the number of posts you want displayed on the home page.
ii. Date Header Format – display the date the way you want.
iii. Archive Index Date Format – display the date format your way.
iv. Timestamp Format – display the time your way.
v. Time Zone – display the time zone your way.
vi. Language – Choose your language.
vii. Convert line breaks – Yes, single hard-returns entered will be replaced with single tags in your blog, and two hard-returns will be replaced with two tags.
viii. Show Title field – Yes, you want a title for each new post.
ix. Show Link fields – Yes, includes a related link with each post.
x. Enable float alignment – Yes, aligns image and text.
xi. Post Template – Can enter something that will show up each post.
f. Settings > Comments
i. Comments – Choose to show or hide comments.
ii. Who Can Comment? – Choose if anyone or only subscribers.
iii. Comments Default for Posts – Should new posts have comments.
iv. Backlinks – Allows everyone to see who is linking to that post.
v. Backlinks Default for Posts – Should new posts have backlinks.
vi. Comments Timestamp Format – How should comment time show.
vii. Comment Form Message – General message about comments.
viii. Show comments in a popup window? – No, many people don’t allow pop-ups.
ix. Enable comment moderation? – Yes, if someone puts something inappropriate you want to be able to edit it even delete.
x. Show word verification for comments? – CAPTCHA requires a visitor to verify they are a human and not an Internet bot.
xi. Show profile images on comments? – Yes, people like to see other people’s faces.
xii. Comment Notification Email – Blogger sends the comment to you.
g. Settings > Archiving
i. Archive Frequency – How often do you want to archive?
ii. Enable Post Pages? – Yes, this helps improves your rank.
h. Settings > Site Feed - NOTE: This is an advanced issue.
i. Settings > Email
i. BlogSend Address – Yes, your blog is e-mailed to you.
ii. Mail-to-Blogger Address – If you want to send mobile photos and text immediately to your blog.
j. Settings > OpenID - NOTE: This is an advanced issue.
k. Settings > Permissions
i. Blog Authors – If you want multiple authors this is where you go.
ii. Blog Readers – If you want an exclusive private blog you can change these settings.
l. Layout > Pick New Template
i. Choose how you would like your site to look.
m. Layout > Page Elements
i. Add components to your site.
n. Layout > Fonts & Colors
i. Choose the colors you would like to use.
o. Layout > Edit HTML - NOTE: This is an advanced issue.
3. Installing Google Adsense
a. Go to http://www.google.com/adsense
b. Click “Join AdSense” button
c. Website Information
i. Website URL
1. list primary URL only - Example: www.example.com
ii. Website language – Choose language you write in
iii. Check Mark
1. I will not place ads on sites that include incentives to click on ads.
2. I will not place ads on sites that include pornographic content.
d. Contact Information
i. Account Type – Choose individual or business
ii. Country or Territory – Choose where you live
iii. Payee Name & Address Information
iv. Check Mark
1. I agree that I can receive checks made out to the payee name I have listed above.
v. How did you find out about Google AdSense?
e. Policies
i. Check Market
1. I agree that I will not click on the Google ads I'm serving through AdSense.
2. I certify that I have read the AdSense Program Policies.
3. I do not already have an approved AdSense account.
f. NOTE – It will take several business days for Google to verify your information once they have please follow the steps below.
g. AdSense Setup
i. AdSense for Content
1. NOTE: Google AdSense program policy allows you to place up to three ad units and three link units on any page.
2. Select Ad Unit and choose between text ads only, image ads only, or both.
3. Choose format, color and corner styles.
4. NOTE: Wizards is an Advanced Option
5. Name the AdSense Unit
6. Submit to get code. Copy the code.
7. Go to Blog Layout
a. Select Add a Page Element
b. Choose HTML/JavaScript
c. Do not enter title information.
d. Paste copied code from AdSense.
ii. Repeat these steps for multiple content, links, search and referrals and videos.
4. Installing Google Analytics
a. Go to: http://www.google.com/analytics
b. Sign in using your Google GMail account.
c. At the bottom of the page select “Add Website Profile”
d. Choose Website Profile Type
i. Add a Profile for a New Domain
ii. Provide the URL of the site you would like to track.
iii. Instructions for adding tracking.
1. Select New Tracking Code
2. Copy Code.
3. Go to Blog Layout
a. Select Add a Page Element
b. Choose HTML/JavaScript
c. Do not enter title information.
d. Paste copied code from Google Analytics.
5. Installing AddThis Button
a. Go to: http://www.addthis.com/
b. Select: Get Your Button
c. What kind of button? – Select Sharing/Bookmarking
d. Which look? – Choose the look that is right for you.
e. Where do you want to put the button? – Select on a Blog
i. Blogging Platform – Select Blogger
f. Select “Get Your Free Button”
g. Create a free account – Fill out the information requested.
h. Select if you want the drop-down button or the non drop-down button.
i. Copy the code.
i. Go to Blog Layout
1. Select Add a Page Element
2. Choose HTML/JavaScript
3. Do not enter title information.
4. Paste copied code from Google Analytics.
6. Setting Up Google Alerts
a. Go to: http://www.google.com/alerts
b. Enter the topic you wish to monitor.
c. Choose the type.
d. Choose the frequency.
e. Enter the e-mail where the information should be sent.