Getting Ready for the Student Blogging Challenge

This week begins the Student Blogging Challenge.  It consists of completing different blog-related activities each week and interacting with other student bloggers from around the world.  This week, we'll just be sure that our blog is set up and ready to be viewed by a global audience.

To do for week 1:
Part 1: Change your blog comments settings (for Blogger only)

• *(old layout)In your dashboard, click on "settings," then "comments"
• *(new layout)In the dropdown menu on your dashboard, select "settings," then on the left sidebar select "posts and comments"
• Under "who can comment," select "anyone"
• Under "backlinks" select "show"
• Under "comment moderation" select "always"
• Click "save settings"

Part 2: Update (or create if you don't have one) your About Me page in your blog

•  (Old Blogger interface) Click on"settings" "posting," then "Edit Pages," then "Add New Page."  Title your page, "About Me" 
• (New Blogger interface) In the dropdown menu on your dashboard, select "settings," then on the left sidebar select "pages"
• Tell your readers your first name only, a bit about your interests but remember to be internet savvy and not give out any personal details.

Part 3:  Connect!

• Find your name on the student participant list, check that the link works, then visit at least ten blogs  and leave comments on one of their posts.

For week 2 *(for block 1)

Part 1:
Your place

• Write a post about tourist attractions in your state. Try to include at least five places that Miss W , Davo the Tasmanian Devil or Squirrel would like to visit
• Visit at least five other blogs from students or classes around the world and ask some questions about their town, school, country in your comments. We have participants from 24 countries taking part in the challenge.

Published Writing Self Assessment--March 2

September 30th Daybook Blogging and Student Challenge Commenting

Part 1: Writing

Look over the daybook quick-writes you've done relating to the Hunger Games.  Pick one, and write a blog post that expands on what you wrote in your daybook.  It does not necessarily need to be directly related to the Hunger Games, but it can be.  No length requirement, but your post should be thoughtful and complete. Be sure to proofread and run spell check before you post.

Part 2: Blog Reading and Commenting

Visit blogs of other students participating in the Student Blogging Challenge.  Click here for the list.

Leave comments on at least five blogs.  Remember our guidelines for commenting:
  1. Be relevant
  2. Be positive
  3. Have something meaningful to say
  4. Proofread before posting

For one of the blogs you visit and comment on, complete the form below:

Sept 20th--Daybook Blogging and Student Challenge

Part 1: Writing

Look over the daybook quick-writes you've done relating to the Hunger Games.  Pick one, and write a blog post that expands on what you wrote in your daybook.  It does not necessarily need to be directly related to the Hunger Games, but it can be.  No length requirement, but your post should be thoughtful and complete. Be sure to proofread and run spell check before you post.

Part 2: Change your blog comments settings (for Blogger only)

• In your dashboard, click on "settings," then "comments"
• Under "who can comment," select "anyone"
• Under "backlinks" select "show"
• Under "comment moderation" select "always"
• Click "save settings"

Part 3: Add a visitor tracking widget to your blog's sidebar

• There are many different gadgets you can use – revolvermaps, clustrmaps, flag counter, feedjit  
• Though each widget is different, all will involve providing your blog's url, and copying an embed code
• To embed your visitor tracker on your sidebar in Blogger (*In Edublogs, click here for directions)
•       On your dashboard, click the "design" tab
•       On the sidebar, click "add gadget"
•       Select the gadget that says "html/javascript"
•       Paste the code for your widget (that you copied) in the html/javascript gadget

Part 4: Create an About Me page in your blog

• For Blogger, Click on "posting," then "Edit Pages" then "Add New Page."  Title your page, "About Me"
• For Edublogs, go here, and scroll down to where it says Activity 1
•  Tell your readers your first name only, a bit about your interests but remember to be internet savvy and not give out any personal details.

Part 5: Connecting with a Global Audience of Student Bloggers

Visit five blogs from other students around the world (click here for the list), leave a comment on each blog asking the author a question.