Thing 1: Set Up Your Blog

Now that you have a better idea of what 16 Things is all about, it’s time to set up your very own blog to begin recording your progress and thoughts on the 16 Things. There are several free online blog hosting services including Wordpress & Typepad, but we recommend Blogger, a Google product.

This is a very important Thing. You will record your progress in your blog & others will be reading your blog. Read through all of the instructions!
Set up your blog by following these steps:

1. Create an account in Blogger

• Go to Blogger.com


• Click on the long orange arrow that says Create Your Blog Now. Follow the 3 step instructions.

• You will need a Google Account. Follow the directions to set up a Google Account if you do not have one. You can use any email address—it does not need to be a Gmail address. Your email becomes your Username. Your Display Name is how your posts are signed--you can use your real name, initials, or a nickname.


• Create a password for your account. (The first of many usernames/passwords you will create for 16 Things. Think now how you will remember them all. Or use the same one or similar ones for every Web 2.0 tool.)


• Remember to write down your Username and Password.

2. Name your blog

This is the hard part! You will create both a blog title and a URL for your blog.

• The blog title is the name that will appear on the banner at the top of your blog. The blog title does not need to be unique--nor will you be able to tell if it is unique. There are probably hundreds of blogs with relatively generic names--BobBlog or Musings, for example. That is OK. However, we do recommend that you not name your blog 16 Things at Ai, 16things, or similar names just to avoid some confusion. Add an identifier--Bob's 16 Things or 16 Things on the Prairie. Be sure that the blog name appears in the masthead of your blog. If it does not, go to the Settings tab and enter your blog name in the Title box. Click Save.

• The URL is the unique Web address of your blog. This URL is how you will find your blog or tell others how to find it. We recommend a short, easy to remember URL. You must be sure that no one else has registered the URL you want on Blogger! Blogger will tell you if the URL you want is available--click Check Availability.

Remember that the whole web world can see your blog title and blog address. Create a name that reflects the 16 Things program, but is uniquely yours. Here are some names of other people’s 16 Things blogs:

Nancy's Blog-16 Things
Janel's Adventure With 16 Things
Good Things on My Table - 16 Things

• In Blogger, the URL format is blogname.blogspot.com There is no www in the address when using Blogger.com software.


• The URL for your blog will look like these examples

http://minnonastick.blogspot.com/
http://23thingsonastick.blogspot.com/

Please remember your URL address and/or bookmark it.


Blogger Settings
Be sure that you have enabled comments. We want to comment on your posts, as do others.

1. Under the Settings Tab, click the Comments link. We recommend the second choice under Who Can Comment? Registered Users.
2. If you want to moderate comments (review all comments before they are published) scroll down and turn moderation on.
3. If you want others (up to 10 people) to know when you receive a comment, you can enter their email addresses in the box near the bottom of that page.

Click Save Settings once you are done.


3. Select your template.

• The fun part--Blogger has several templates so choose one that fits you. The first Choose Template screen has only a few; choose one. If you want to experiment with other Templates after your blog is set-up, go to Layout and choose Pick New Template. You will see many more choices. Try some; it is easy to see how your blog will look in the different choices.

Hints

• If you run into problems, check out Blogger's Help file and Tutorial or here’s a MINITEX Blog Tutorial . Another tutorial is here.


• Be sure to enable comments under Settings on Blogger.


• Be sure your blog title appears on the masthead of your blog. Go to settings and enter it in the Title box if it does not appear.


• Spend some time exploring the features of Blogger—spell check, how to upload photos or video, font choices, text size and color, and more.

4. Create an avatar.

• An avatar is an online representation of yourself. Go to http://avatars.yahoo.com/ to design an avatar. There are many choices for appearance, accessories, pets, etc. (You will have to set up an account if you don't use Yahoo!) You can make an avatar that resembles the "real you" or create an entirely new you (If only it were so easy!)


• Save your avatar and export to your blog.

Here's how to export your Yahoo! avatar to your blog.

1. When you are on your Avatars.Yahoo.com page, go to "Home" tab and look at the right column. One of the options is: "EXPORT: Use your avatar in web pages and blogs and more." Click there.


2. In the Center of the page, one option is your avatar's HTML code. Copy (Control C) the code, go to your blog. Sign in. On Blogger Dashboard there is an option to add a Manage posts, settings, or layout; Go to "LAYOUT." You will see various page elements.


3. Click "Add a Gadget" from the page. From the pop-up box that opens, choose the item marked "HTML/Java Script


4. Paste (Control V) the HTML code into the Content box. Add a title in the title box if you wish.


5. Click Save Changes.


6. Back on the Layout page, you can drag and drop that PAGE ELEMENT to wherever you want your avatar to appear on your blog.

After you have completed Steps 1-4, you are ready to register for Ai MN 16 Things. Register one blog per person.


5. Register your blog.
Here's how to register:

• Click here to register your blog. You will be directed as to how to register your blog from that site. Please follow the directions carefully. Both of them.
  
• We will add you to the Ai MN 16 Things blog lists according to your advisor. We will not list your name; only your blog's name. Remember, it may take a couple days or so to get your blog on the blog list. Don't panic (and don't re-register!)--it will get there as soon as we can get it up.

You’re ready to start posting!

Whenever you complete a Thing, write a post reflecting your experience with the Thing you accomplished. Please clearly label each entry in your blog in with Thing number and the subject. We just need to be able to see which Thing you are doing. Read and comment on other 16 Things bloggers’ posts, too. That’s part of being part of this learning community. And as Jimi Hendrix once said, "Everyone, likes feedback baby". It's true. He said that.

Each of your posts should provide insights into what you’ve discovered and learned. Share what worked for you, what didn’t, what you’ve shared with your colleagues, any surprises, frustrations, and eureka moments. We will offer some blog prompts to get you thinking, but don’t feel limited by those—splash out and share!

Remember, each participant must have her/his own blog to record progress.

NOTE: It may take a up to a week for your blog to appear on the Participants' Blogs lists. We must enter the info manually. If your blog does not appear a week after you register, email aim16things@aii.edu with your name, blog name, and blog URL. Check the FAQs for more info.


Challenge (optional)

1. Add features from Blogger's selections on Layout and Settings pages. Add a blog roll of blogs of your fellow participants or of other interesting blogs you've found. Add photos or video. How about a poll?

2. Already have a Blogger blog? Explore other blogging software and compare and contrast features. Which ones have great features? Which one would you recommend?

3. Add third party features to your blog--visitor counts, email subscriptions and more. Feedburner and Sitemeter are two sources of additional features.

4. Be sure to blog about your experience with the other blogging software and/or third party features. Any features you think all blogs should have?