Activity 5 – Sign up and begin blogging

Demonstrate the dashboard and how to access all of Word Press’ features from there. You can choose to each have your own blog but work together to set them up.  You can also make one blog for the two people. Please follow along and do not work ahead. Pay attention to your domain name and your blog title. It is important later on.

• Go to wordpress.com

• Click on sign up

• Add username and password, no spaces or special characters

• Domain name will be the address so make it memorable

• Title will be the title but not the address and it can be changed anytime. This can be longer if you like.

• Finish set up

You are ready to make your first blog post. Click write post.

Activity 6 – Your 1st post, your last 3 months

• Write your 1st post on your blog’Write a description of what you  have been doing the last 3 months.
• Make it 1 paragraph. The paragraph should be about you but be sure not to describe any sensitive ENAC related information. Where have you been and what have you been doing? 
• Discuss it with your partner 1st and then type it on your blog.
• How do I do that?

1. Log in to your blog’s dashboard and click the Write tab.
2. Click in the small box at the top that says “Title” and type “About Me.
3.  Click in the larger box below it that says “Post” and type “My name is _____ and I have been in _____”.  Finish writing your paragraph.
4. Click the “Publish” button.
5. You’ll see a message at the top of your screen that says “Post saved”.
6. Click on the “View post” link to see the page that displays just this one post.
7. Click on the “View site” link at the top of your dashboard to see the front page of your blog – your new post will be at the top.

• You have 20 minutes or so to complete this task. I will circulate around the room to assist and to gather the addresses of the blogs. After this activity you will visit each blog and make a comment on each blog.
• Use formal English, good descriptions, and a reasonably serious tone.

Activity 7 – Making Comments

• I will demonstrate how to leave a comment on a blog.
• You will all write and receive your first comments on your blog.
• Visit each of the blogs listed on the board.
• Read each person’s post.
• Write a comment.
• Your comment should show an understanding of what you read and if possible you should point out any English errors you see.
• You can put your name or an anonymous name, you must put a valid email address, put your new blog address in the website field.
• Click submit.
• Verify that your comment was submitted.
• Once you have made your comments visit your own blog to see the comments.
• You will have to accept the comments under “Comments Awaiting Moderation. Check the spam tab too. Once you have accepted a comment, future comments will appear without being accepted.
• What do you notice about the name connected to the comments?

Questions? Difficulties?

Activity 8 – Teaching Each Other

Each group must choose one of the following tasks to do on your blog.Write a post explaining how to do it. Explain to the class how it is done.Embed a you tube video in a posthttp://faq.wordpress.com/2006/07/29/how-do-i-post-a-youtube-video/Upload a picture to a posthttp://faq.wordpress.com/2006/07/16/how-do-i-upload-pictures/You might need to go to a photo site like Flickr or Photobucket to get a picture to upload as an example.Delete your blog or accounthttp://faq.wordpress.com/category/delete/Don’t actually delete your blog or account yet.Change the theme to your blog.Presentation, themes, review available themes, click on one to try it out, activate, change it a few times, keep one you like. I’ll help a little with this one.You have 30 minutes or so to figure out how to do the task, write a post about it, and prepare to explain and demonstrate the task.

Activity 9 – Blogging Resources

• http://wordpress.com/features/
•  http://faq.wordpress.com/
• .http://en.forums.wordpress.com/
• http://faq.wordpress.com/2007/08/16/im-new-to-blogging-where-do-i-start/