Blogging Pathway- Registration and Introduction

[Maggie Verster]

All blogging attendees, please make your way over to the Blogging workshop and introduce yourelf over there

Blogging is easy, effortless (I lie of course) and fun! So whether you want to create a vibrant space for your school to show the real spirit of learning, or whether you want to post homework for parents to keep track of what their kids are supposed to be doing, or if you want to be a reflective teacher so that we can learn from you, or if you just want to create a showcase for your organisation, or claim your personal voice in the blogosphere, then this FREE ONLINE un-workshop is for you!

My context will be rooted in the educational aspects of blogging, but we will also look at personal and organisational blogging. We will not be looking at blogging for profit, but if anyone wants to bring that in, you're welcome! And it will all happen HERE ONLINE in Learnwithmaggie, so no need to scramble around, just fit it into your busy schedule!

The focus of this unworkshop will therefore be the nitty-gritty of blogging from a beginners point of view and will be aimed at providing you with the skills and motivation to set up, maintain and enhance your blog. You will choose a blogging platform, set up your blog and post a blog every two days for 4 weeks. (Don't worry you can cut and paste from your ideas/object folder). You will also be required to speed read at least 2 blogs of the people on your pathway and leave comments in order to support each other!

Start date: 10 November 2008 - 6 December 2008

Where We will use this online space in Learnwithmaggie as our learning springboard!

Content:

• Why do we need to blog- creating an ideas folder
• Reading and commenting on blogs
• Choosing a blogging platform (The difference between wordpress, edublogs, blogger, iblog...)
• Registering for a blog
• Creating your first blogpost
• Customizing your blog
• Embedding videos,slideshows,pictures
• Inserting widgets
• Staying up to date with blogs
• Blogging safety
• Blog maintenance

To register, please complete the registration form Then please proceed to the blogging group where we will work from

[Maggie Verster]

Welcome everybody!

I am Maggie and I am a complete Web 2.0 fanatic (but with emphasis on teaching and learning....) I will be facilitating this un-workshop/learning pathway.

I feel that too many people start with a blog but then abandon it very quickly before they really get into it! So this is an effort to get more teachers to blog about their school, reflect on their teaching and see how they can use it EFFECTIVELY in their school/class environment.

At the moment I am developing an intervention for subject advisors ICT training for the national department of education and are piloting my blogging learning object for this workshop....So I am here to share, help and hopefully grow my local teacher blogging community.....

[Melanie de Bruyn]

Hey there Maggie,

Thanks so much for inviting me! I am a advanced blogger, but I do not blog about education. My blog is more a personal reflection of challenges I face in today`s life, and therefor I blog using a nickname. I think the reasons why most teachers abandon their blogs is not because they do not have the necessary skills, but more because of the heavy admin load that accompanies OBE .

Most blogging sites are very user- friendly, and barely no training is really needed!

I think what most educators lack in, is the proper planning process that should be included in the writing- process. Teachers are struggling to find inspiration on what to blog about , and when they do find a topic- they don't know where to start.

I can assist in this regard, as I am a language teacher, so please call on me when you need any help!

[Maggie Verster]

Hi Melanie,

Thank you so much for voliunteering to join us! You will be able to not only provide us with inspiration, but also help guide on technical issues. I am so glad to have found an active south african teacher blogger. I know we will learn a lot from you.......

[Sandra]

It is so true, I have started ablog just to abandon it again.

[Brenda Hallowes]

Hi Maggie, I am looking forward to joining you.

[Maggie Verster]

Hi B,

So happy to have an old techie friend with me. I promise, once you get into it, you will be a prize blogger!

[Sandra]

Hi Mags

I am looking forward to this

Sandra

[Maggie Verster]

Hi Sandratjie!!!

You have so much to share about maths lit and the wonderful work that you are doing in your outreach programme, I am so glad that you are here!

[Carolynn Bruton]

Hi Maggie
I'm so glad to be here to assist me in reviving old blogs and possibly in beginning a new one. I'm also looking forward, as always, to having fun - with you and your colleagues,
Carolynn B

[Maggie Verster]

It is great to ahve so many "old hands" here to lend a hand. We will defintely have to experiment with some fancy stuff as well!

[Reinet Barnard]

I'm Reinet Barnard and is new to blogging, although I've been teaching Computer Studies and IT for a number of years. I'm also an Art teacher, so the creative side appeals to me. I just hope I get it right.... I would like to teach the kids at school this as well- if I am successful.

[Maggie Verster]

Hi Reinet!!

Easy as pie when you have LOTS of support. I will have some art thingies up my sleeve as well!!! Welcome!!