Class Blogs

IGCSE 2011:          http://kcigcseict2011.blogspot.com/
AS Computing 2011:   http://ascom2011.blogspot.com/
10a1 2011:           http://10a12011.blogspot.com/
10r 2011:            http://kc10r2011.blogspot.com/

New Blogger Themes

Google has created 5 new innovative dynamic themes. Anyone can view their blog using these user friendly layouts by adding /view to the end of your blog URL. Example,  http://kcict.blogspot.com/view . There are five variations; Flipcard, Mosaic, Snapshot, Timeslide and the default Sidebar. It is definitely worth checking out!

Good Blog Posting Skills

When posting on a BLOGGER:
1. Be sensible.
2. Spelling! 
3. Capital letters! (If you don't know where to put them, ask your English teacher)
3. As little white space on the post as possible. Align Images left or right.
4. Use red to highlight key words or points
5. The Hyperlinks don't seem to auto colour (They ignore the CSS within a post) so could you use the same blue I am using to colour links.
6. Always include an image (Humans like them)
7. Make your post informative.
8. Try to include at least 50 words. Too many tiny posts becomes difficult to read and tag.
9. Keep the number of Labels (TAGS) on the blog to a minimum. Stick to overall categories and not individual items within a topic.

Posting on a Blogger Blog

I have produced a video on Posting content (Pics and Videos) and how the Labels on every post appear in the menu on the front page.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZnpl-sj78U

Are you an ICT Head of Year?

I have realised that one opportunity that running this blog offers me is the ability to nominate other "Authors".

If you feel you are an ICT leader within your year group, you can apply directly to me to become an Author of this blog. You will be allowed to add posts that help your fellow students with ICT skills, news and support. There will be one Author nominated from each year group 9 to 13. You will be expected to post responsibly and operate under my rules and guidance. e.g. appropriately tagging every post to assist the organisation of the blog and only changing gadgets and design after consultation with me. This offers you an opportunity to keep your year group up-to-date with what relevant for students at King's and especially those in your year group. Contact me: Email or Twitter: @RichardWells_NZ

New Blogger tools and features coming soon!

Google rarely preannounces new features, so I was really surprised to see a video that highlights some upcoming Blogger features. Google's video does a great job at enumerating the latest Blogger improvements, while asking people: "Have you looked at Blogger lately?"
Google plans to unveil a completely new Blogger interface, mobile templates for blogs (which are already available at Blogger in Draft) and a feature that lets you find related posts and videos.

Why Blog?

Blogs have been around for some time now, in Internet terms, but are rapidly being accepted by schools as an ideal tool for learning and communication. 
Perhaps one of the most fascinating tools that has emerged from the Internet cloud in recent years is the Blog. A shortening of the term Web log, the Blog is an online publishing tool that enables people to easily publish their loves, passions, dislikes, peeves, discoveries, and insights. (Reference)
Blogs are set-up like conventional Web sites, with navigation links, and other standard Web site features. Blogs have one standard characteristic, however: the posting. Blog postings are text entries, similar to a diary or journal, which include a posting date and may include comments by people other than the author, photos, links, or other digital media. Blogs work well for students because they can be worked on at virtually any time, in any place with an Internet-enabled computer. Hence, they can be used by computer savvy teachers to create a classroom that extends beyond the boundaries of the school yard. (Reference)
Thousands of teachers have discovered the value of classroom blogging, both as an avenue for their communications, but also as a tool for giving voice to what their students are learning and how they are learning. (Reference)

Educational Benefits of Blogs
In addition to providing teachers with an excellent tool for communicating with students, there are numerous educational benefits of blogs. Blogs are:

• Highly motivating to students, especially those who otherwise might not become participants in classrooms.
• Excellent opportunities for students to read and write.
• Effective forums for collaboration and discussion.
• Powerful tools to enable scaffolded learning or mentoring to occur.

Here's a great page on 7 things that Blogging brings...

If you agree, please answer the Poll on my blog about King's making more use of them.
This page contains a list of NZ classroom blogs.
Start here: www.blogger.com (You need to create a Gmail account) It's all free!

Blogpress app - update your blog on the fly

I'm adding this post to test the Blogpress app for iPad. The app was 4.99
but will allow me to post more often and add more detail to the posts. This should be a link and here is a picture added with app. I also just downloaded a free ebook on getting the most from blogging, including a mention of over 100 people in the world who blog professionally and make over $10,000 a month!

A2 Blog Addresses

Here are all the addresses. Please start CONSTRUCTIVELY commenting. Your effort grade will be effected by your blog involvement.

http://wellsisawesome.blogspot.com/

http://sam-warren.blogspot.com/

http://chungstarrofficial.blogspot.com/

http://benbrownnz.blogspot.com/

http://tcuivaa.blogspot.com/

I'm sure Ben Andrews' will follow shortly...

AS Computing Blog Addresses

Here are all the addresses. Please start CONSTRUCTIVELY commenting. Your effort grade will be effected by your blog involvement.

http://kcgbenedekrooney.blogspot.com/

http://kcjbutler.blogspot.com/

http://kcjcarmichael.blogspot.com/

http://kcachou.blogspot.com/

http://kcahitchcock.blogspot.com/

http://kcslevene.blogspot.com/

http://kccmoutter.blogspot.com/

http://kcooloughlin.blogspot.com/

http://kcmphillips.blogspot.com/

http://kcorobinson.blogspot.com/

http://kcsruan.blogspot.com/

http://kcjwood.blogspot.com/

http://kckingram.blogspot.com/

http://kcrngo.blogspot.com/

IGCSE Blog Addresses

Here are all the addresses. Please start CONSTRUCTIVELY commenting. Your effort grade will be effected by your blog involvement.

http://igcse11sheetz.blogspot.com/

http://igcse11wilson.blogspot.com/

http://igcse11duignan.blogspot.com/

http://igcse11bridgman.blogspot.com/

http://igcse11sim.blogspot.com/

http://igcse11clapham.blogspot.com/

http://tearikiblog.blogspot.com/

http://igcse11downes1.blogspot.com/

http://tepakih.blogspot.com/

http://igcse11sean.blogspot.com/

http://igcse11tieu.blogspot.com/

http://igcse11horton.blogspot.com/

http://igcse11patel.blogspot.com/

http://igcse11schaumkel.blogspot.com/

http://olisigcse.blogspot.com/

http://igcse11witters.blogspot.com/

NCEA Blog Addresses

Here are all the addresses. Please start CONSTRUCTIVELY commenting. Your effort grade will be effected by your blog involvement.

http://www.kcmmason.blogspot.com/

http://tomstokesnz.blogspot.com/

http://kcjettslearningblog.blogspot.com/

http://firstblognz3.blogspot.com/

http://kcmhope.blogspot.com/

http://kctaldertonlearningblognz.blogspot.com/

http://j-wright-nz.blogspot.com/

http://kctcooper.blogspot.com/

http://paddyfoss.blogspot.com/

http://kjpatel.blogspot.com/

http://hercules-noble.blogspot.com/

http://kchlewis.blogspot.com/

http://kc-georgekoreman.blogspot.com/

http://kchfree.blogspot.com/

http://timsblognz.blogspot.com/

http://tturua.blogspot.com/

http://colintuimalealiifano.blogspot.com/

http://s-mcgaffin-nz.blogspot.com/

http://kcowills.blogspot.com/

http://kceastwoodlearningblog.blogspot.com/

http://adamwilcoxkclearningblog.blogspot.com/