Blogger vs WordPress plus helpful links

I now know how to create blogs in Google blogger (blogspot) and in WordPress (WP). Here is a comparison between the two apps:

Features: 

1. Themes & customization: Google allows for customized templates in its “Dynamic Views”; WP does not allow for template editing – stylesheet editing requires a paid upgrade.

2. Languages: Googles has 50 languages; WP has 120+ .

3. Visitor stats: Both have built-in stats.

4. Javascript: Google allows 3rd party scripts; WP does not allow scripts.

5. Domain names: Googles allows you to transfer your name free or buy one; WP requires a paid upgrade to transfer.

6. Import: Google allows import og another blogspot blog use a 3rd party tool (WordPress2blogger) to convert up to 1 MB; WP allows mporting from blogger, yahoo! 360, typepad, movable text, tumblr, vox, israblog, …

7. Image storage: Google allows 1 gigabyte (stored in Picasa); WP allows 3 gigabytes and you can buy an upgrade.

8. Galleries: Google has a slideshow widget; WP – simply add the tag to any post or page

9. Static pages: Google allows up to 10 pages, but no static front page; WP allows creating posts or pages and a static front page.

10. Categories: Google has labels (tags); WP has categories and tags.

11. Share buttons: Google has them in the Navbar, plus a “share” button option; WP allows configuring any of your favorite “share” buttons”

12. Post excerpts: Google allows Jump Breaks in your posts; WP allows to post excerpts with a “post” tag

13. Post by email: Google allows new posts by email (good for teams0; WP allows submitting your posts by email (can attach images)

14. Contract forms: Google – not available unless by 3rd party; WP allows you to simply add the tage (contract form) to any post or blog.

15. Private blogs: Google allows you to restrict access to 100 invited Google account holders; WP allows an unlimited number of invited WP account holders.

16. Password protection: Google – not available; WP – individual posts can have password protection.

17. Team blogs: Google allows for administrators and non-administrators only; WP allows for administrator, editors, authors and contributors.

18. Favicons: Googles – yes (optional setting); WP – yes (blavatars).

19. Comments: Google – visual confirmation, spam filtering and moderation options, but no editing; WP – moderation, comment editing and Askismet span protection.

20. Feedback: Google has “Reactions” – a mini-poll option for reader ratings; WP has a “Like” button where visitors can put a link to their Profile page in your post.

 

!!!CAUTION!!!

1. WordPress is FREE because revenue comes from ads that are quite often inserted into user posts – logged-in users don’t see them. For $30 you can go Ad-Free. For $30 more you can have a custom design. For $13 you can transfer your donaim name. That is $73. Or you can use this hosting company: http://www.lvcs.net/ where an economy web hosting plan starts at $3.99 a month and includes 10 gigabytes of storage.

2. Terms of Service: Blogs can be deleted without warning.

 

More info:

Blogger:

• http://www.google.com/support/blogger/ ( Help pages )

• AdSense – Google ads you can utilize on blogspot.

• Third-party import tool: converts up to 1 MB.

• Third-party contact form.

• 50 languages.

 

WP – free hosted:

• http://en.support.wordpress.com/ ( Help pages )

• Shortcodes — widgets for individual posts.

• Theme Browser.

• 120+ languages.

 

Tumblr:

• New: Free Themes at Tumblr.

 

 

BP10-RISE Action Plan commentary

RISE Action Plan review #1:

I reviewed Jared Clemons’ Action Plan and posted my commentary. I found his Action Plan interesting because I am a visual artist and his choice of new technology is an online art portfolio website, ”Carbon Made”. I found his Action Plan clear and well organized.

 

As an experienced professional artist/designer, I suggested that he include information and resource links about legally copyrighting artwork since this is important to encourage usage of the new technology.

 

The target audience is Students and teachers. I asked him about the possibility of extending his target audience to include professionals who might have a business-related interest in the artwork. I also recommended adding the Graphic Artist Guild as a resource link for professional advice.

________________________________________________________________________________

RISE Action Plan review #2:

I posted this comment on Bradford Harris’ Action Plan Lesson on Educator Studio.

(I am hoping that he approves and posts it in time for your review.)

Hi Bradford,

I enjoy your writing and have subscribed to your blog, so I feel very fortunate that I have found your Action Plan on Educator Studio. I am glad that I searched Educator Studio because I did not see the Action Plan page on your blog’s homepage.

I agree that students need to have more creative outlets in the classroom – this is what the 21^st Century is all about!  I like that you chose Powtoon presentation tool for sharing ideas as a visual aid to summarize fiction. This makes it so engaging to both the creator and the viewer, we are entering an age of imagery as a means to communicate everything from factual information to feelings.

Have you considered going a step or two further and asking students to write a very short story – can be super short – about a photo? The photo could be a random shot that a student brings in, does not necessarily even need to be a good photo. I just visited a photography  blog (“SethSnap”) that does this and it has almost 6, 700 followers!

I read something today that made an impression on me along the lines of writing, imagination, and storytelling. So, I thought that you also might find this article on Fast Company useful to jumpstart your students’ writing skills and creativity. It is a “brainstorming” technique used by songwriters. I actually think that this technique has been incorporated by out instructor into this course – if so, it works for me!

I notice that you are recommending Powerpoint to students. That is so smart! Perhaps you could also introduce students to Apple Keynote, it is used by Google’s Branding Department (I applied for that job). You will have the most high-tech and creative students, yet!

Thank you for sharing your Action Plan and for being such a great teacher.

Sincerely,

Annemarie Arnold

https://doodlefanatic.wordpress.com/

BP9-CSCP Action Plan

CSCP Action Plan

• Goal/End Product (Identify the media-based product or technology-based solution you will create during the next three months.):

Inspire others (i.e., coworkers, general public) to use WP blogging for professional success and/or personal fulfillment. Blogging requires knowledge of learning an online app such as WordPress (WP. I will create an informative and inspirational audio-visual presentation using various apps (PhotoShop, Keynote, Premiere pro or iMovie) that will be accessible online.

My presentation will have links to my other online presentations – these presentations will instruct and individuals in the basics of WP blogging so they can design and manage their own blog. These other presentations will be created using screen recordings and the same apps used for my first presentation: Apple Keynote, Adobe Premiere Pro video, PhotoShop, and online screen captures. The blog app I will be teaching in WordPress (WP).

• Target Audience (who will be viewing or using my product and how this effects my decisions):

My scenario applies to anyone who has an email address, access to a computer, a high-speed online connection, and a desire to have an online presence – a universal audience preferably above grade 12 and literate in the English language (I will translate into French at a later date).

My target audience will also include all individuals or groups who have a passion for creative thinking. My target audience will consist of both learners and educators who are open to learning and collaborating in an open and technologically rich environment for mutually beneficial growth opportunities.

• Experts or test group (expert reviewers or test group):

Test group will be the intended audience (U.S. Treasury coworkers) or others if need be. Also EMDT cohorts who are interested in submitting their review of my end product(s) on RILS.

• Purpose (the overall goal of my project): 


My overall goal is to share knowledge and elevate others in the benefits of blogging by teaching them in how to create their own WP blog.

• Objectives: At the end of my instruction, the learners should be able to:• Create a basic (free) WordPress blog.
  • Present themselves authentically – learners will understand that blogs are written in their own “voice” and will learn how to upload/embed images.
  • Network with others online by linking to their linkedin, Facebook, or other social media sites; and link/follow/subscribe to other blogs.
  • Review the training by visiting my online website or blog with how-to videos, printable PDFs (I will use various design apps such as Keynote, Premiere Pro, etc, to create my learning tools).
  • Understand the importance of blogging for branding themselves.
  • Apply link of their blog to correspondence such as resumes.
  • Analyze WordPress’ website for further learning opportunities.
  • Evaluate their learning experience by participating in a survey.
• Linked Resources (what I will need to reach my goals – this list may need revisions as I move through each month):

1. WordPress  account – linked
2. Diigo account – linked
3. Facebook Page – linked
4. LinkedIn Account – linked
5. Online portfolio – linked

• Materials for creating my presentation:

1. Computer
2. High-speed internet connection
3. Software: Apple Keynote; Adobe PhotoShop; Adobe Premiere Pro; iMovie; Quicktime; other CS6 software.
4. Digital video camera and tripod
5. Copy-right free images (optional)
6. Copy-right free music (optional)

• Materials for students to learn how to create their WP blog:

1. Computers available; one per student
2. Conference room or office with a high-speed internet connection
3. Pens, paper
4. Screen in front of class and technology to project images, video, and internet page from instructor’s computer
5. Copy-right free images (optional)

• Materials: Creative Project Management Tools:

1. Dropmark – Collaborative tool in the Cloud to collaborate, organize, and share images, audio, video

• Procedure and Timeline:

What are the steps needed to accomplish your goals and what are the deadlines you must set for yourself? Choose a collaborative tool to create and share your milestones and timeline. You will post a link on your blog.

1. Establish a blog on WordPress account to explore and publish my research and musings on subject matter.
2. Maintain a directory of useful industry resources.
3. Evaluate my instructing evaluations and learner surveys to assist in setting goals and benchmarks for future work and assets.
4. Gather and organize current and previous instructor materials, to successful and effective methodologies, practices and activities.
5. Keep abreast of industry news via blogs, communities of practice, social networking and industry/peer-reviewed publications.
6. Develop peer and professional relationships by contributing to communities of practices and mentoring/peer groups
7. Establish a system for saving, organizing and updating resources.
8. Complete all coursework in a professional and timely fashion.
9. Maintain skills from course to course and continue building on new knowledge by continuing to create educational assets.

• Maintain my online portfolio of artwork ideas and projects/topics for production/publication.
• Incorporate new and innovative technologies, resources and applications to systematically build upon my Virtual Learning Environment.
• Continue to update this Action Plan as needed towards the successful completion of my Capstone Project and subsequent research towards.

The procedure and timeline also depends on availability of computers, conference room for lab session, approval from management.

The instruction will be given in three parts:
1) Introduction to blogging and its importance to job search efforts; registering your WP blog.
2) Designing the HOME page of your blog and adding posts.
3) Networking using your WP blog, widgets.

Time breakdown:
8:00 a.m. to 10:30
Break 15 minutes
10:45 to 12:00 noon
Break 30 minutes for lunch
12:30 to 3:00 p.m.
3:00 to 4:00 individual assistance, questions

The ideal class size will have a limit of 10 to 12 employees. I will train a coworker to assist with training. I will ask students to commit to spending the day for this training. In the event that we cannot commit to spending an entire day of training, I will request that the course be broken into 3 days. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

• Resources:

Please keep a running list of the resources you gather and use through the process.

1. Edutopia – Building Execution Function through Brain-Based Strategies
2. Teaching with Blogs – Strategy
3. Create abstract background in Premiere – tutorial
4. Make Mac Curser More Visible in Demos
5. How-to record from Quicktime on Mac OSx
6. Melody Music
7. Webpages as graphs
8. How to Record a Voiceover in Premiere CS6
9. WP Support: Slideshows
10. Use Presenter Display to enhance your Keynote presentations
11. Tips for using Keynote
12. WordPress: Plugin to change blog’s title color
13. Adding special characters in html
14. WordPress site: change font sizes, pick HEX color codes for html
15. ET and Open Content
16. WordPress tips
17. Education – Creative Commons
18. Mindshift ‘Don’t Lecture Me” Rethinking How College Students Learn”
19. Khan Academy
20. U.S. Department of Education

• Evaluation:

I will recruit experts in the field to review, interact with, or use your product and provide you with feedback for revisions or improvements. I will develop the procedure for this process.

1. I will contact senior US Treasury officials to evaluate my product as well as others in the field.
2. Build, join and/or participate in a professional and/or peer group of like-minded Knowledge Workers and Artists; provide and seek mentoring, editing and/or critiquing of VLE at progressive stages of development.
3. Recruit Knowledge Workers and other experts in the field to participate in a focus group or test group.
4. Recruit home educated learners, learners pursuing continuing education and other classes of learners to participate in free evaluation trials of the Virtual Learner Environment, in exchange for detailed feedback according to an established set of parameters.
5. Submit VLE to a community of practice and enlist other educators to ‘test-drive’ VLE in their environment.

• Reflection:

Create a video to reflect on the entire process. Ask yourself: What did you learn in terms of content and skills? What would you do differently if you could start at the beginning and repeat the process? Where will this take you in the future? How would you pitch this idea or project to prospective employers or administrators.

I will create a video (to be posted to the Project Page of my blog) to reflect upon the process that answers these questions:

1. What did I learned in terms of contents, skills?
2. What would I have done differently?
3. Where will this take me in the future?
4. How would I pitch this idea to future employers, administrators?

• Milestones:

Learn how to do a voice-over in Adobe Premiere Pro; learn Adobe After Effects CS6 software; learn how to create a “how-to” audio-video presentation using a screen capture software.

1. Upon completion of this Capstone Project, I will review and reflect upon the entire process by reviewing blog posts from each quarter of my Certificate program.  I will create a graphical presentation of the content and acquired skills by highlighting selected assignments from each course/element of my program.
2. I will review all feedback, surveys and comments received on major elements of this CSCP throughout the development of my VLE and reflect on elements upon which I could improve the outcome by modifying specific elements.
3. Finally, I will produce a video presentation highlighting and demonstrating the progressive development of the Virtual Learning Environment from inception to finished product.
4. All final presentation material will be posted on my blog.

RILS Video: One day I started blogging… and then, something happened…

“One day I started blogging…”

I uploaded my video on Vimeo. To see, click above link or image, below:

I created this video as an intro for my project using PhotoShop, Premiere Pro, and Apple Keynote. The animation is of my blog as it unfolds. I uploaded it onto Vimeo because it is too large to embed into the WP Library (over 1000MB). I may import it into iMovie and explore iMovie’s transitions,etc. I also want to explore motion graphics using After Effects.

BP6-One day I starting blogging… with WordPress!

Arnold, AnneMarie_RILSPlan 

Education Media Design and Technology (EMDT) Graduate Certificate

Date: 12/11/12

Project Title (New):

“One day I started blogging…” and then, something happened…

 

Intro

To be relevant as a communicator and evolved leader in today’s global economy, one must have an online presence. Blogging is a convenient way to achieve that goal – anyone can have a blog, and it’s free. Learn how to make an authentic and engaging WordPress blog that demonstrates your networking capabilities.

Overview

Blogging has helped me get noticed by potential employers. I want to help others (my coworkers) by teaching WordPress blogging; students will learn how to:

• create an engaging blog,
• present your strengths,
• network for influence.

Target Audience

My scenario applies to anyone who has an email address, access to a computer, a high-speed online connection, and a desire to have an online presence – a universal audience preferably above grade 8 and literate in the English language (I will translate into French at a later date).

Materials

• Computer, preferably an Apple iOS 10.x
• High-speed internet connection
• WordPress (WP) app is free and accessed online
• Copyright-free digital images (optional)
• Notepads, pencils
• Microphone for instructor
• Large screen to display presentation and online navigationI recommend that each individual have his/her own computer for live lab session. A large screen should be in front of room to show the presentation, this demo is uploaded on system or can be accessed online. The instructor could also have another screen view to show how to navigate online through the WP app. This would create the optimum learning experience. I also plan to train an interested coworker to serve as my assistant. We would then have a great hands-on session with sufficient visuals.

Objectives

At the end of my instruction, the learners should be able to:

• Create a basic (free) WordPress blog.
• Present themselves authentically – learners will understand that blogs are written in their own “voice” and will learn how to upload/embed images.
• Network with others online by linking to their linkedin, Facebook, or other social media sites; and link/follow/subscribe to other blogs.
• Review the training by visiting my online website or blog with how-to videos, printable PDFs (I will use various design apps such as Keynote, Premiere Pro, etc, to create my learning tools).
• Understand the importance of blogging for branding themselves.
• Apply link of their blog to correspondence such as resumes.
• Analyze WordPress’ website for further learning opportunities.
• Evaluate their learning experience by participating in a survey.

Procedure

• The instruction will be given in three parts:
  1) Introduction to blogging and its importance to job search efforts; registering your WP blog.
  2) Designing the HOME page of your blog and adding posts.
  3) Networking using your WP blog, widgets.

• Time breakdown:
  8:00 a.m. to 10:30
  Break 15 minutes
  10:45 to 12:00 noon
  Break 30 minutes for lunch
  12:30 to 3:00 p.m.
  3:00 to 4:00 individual assistance, questions

The ideal class size will have a limit of 10 to 12 employees. I will train a coworker to assist with training. I will ask students to commit to spending the day for this training. In the event that we cannot commit to spending an entire day of training, I will request that the course be broken into 3 days.  Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Emerging Technology (ET): WordPress

WordPress (WP) is a popular free blogging app used to create an online presence complete with the option of embedding/uploading a range of digital media such as images, audio, videos, and presentations.

Social Participation

Students will develop their online skills by helping each other and by conducting their own online research and sharing results. Learning these new technology skills is ongoing and should be considered as such.

 

Connections

The learner will connect with:

• Previous knowledge: Although my audience will most likely not have prior experience to making a WordPress blog, they likely will have knowledge of using MS Word to script text, and they may have read blog(s) – they will compare their blog to blogs they admire and relate why they enjoy some blogs more than others.

• Relevance: My audience will find blogging relevant and important in their lives should they want to be competitive in today’s job market which expects workers to be capable in an online networking environment.

• Audience: Blogging connects the administrator with both local and global audiences through participatory engagement. They will choose whether to have a private blog to share with their friends, or to go public and connect with potential employers and with the general public.

  

Creation

The learners will create a WordPress blog.

Assessment

Questions I will ask:

• Did you learn how to create a basic (free) WordPress blog?
• Did you learn the importance of writing in your own “voice”?
• Did you how to learn how to upload/embed images?
• Did you learn how to network with others online by linking to their linkedin, Facebook, or other social media sites; and link/follow/subscribe to other blogs?
• Do you now understand the importance of blogging for branding?
• Do you know how to apply a link of your blog to correspondence such as resumes?
• Do you know how to navigate/analyze WordPress’ website for further learning opportunities?

BP7-Reflection

I entered the EMDT graduate certificate course without any prior knowledge of WordPress. I had created blogs on Google blogspot, which helped to familiarize me with blogging – but creating a blog on blogspot is very different from WordPress, so using WordPress for the first time was akn to learning another language (blogspot being a romance language and WordPress being a Germanic language – good for business)… I jumped in, learned to navigate in WordPress enough to create my blog, and used Google search to troubleshoot. Then, I began to really enjoy the WordPress app despite its lack of intuitiveness. I learned WordPress to get my assignments online as posts; at that time I was thinking Apple Keynote would be the Emerging Technology (ET) I would be promoting in this course. What changed my mind was the fact that Apple Keynote was too easy to learn; and I did not feel that software exclusive to Apple would be useful to my friends and coworkers who don’tt own an Apple computer. I also wanted to use Adobe Premiere Pro which is part of the CS6 software package to make my video. So Keynote took a backseat… and my ET changed to WordPress as my app of choice.

As I progressed in the course, I became immersed in making my intro video with all of the ETs I had available to me through this course: Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Keynote. I learned the basics of iMovie and compared that app to Premiere Pro, but iMovie did not offer me the creative options of Premiere Pro. As an artist, I like to alter frames and put frames inside of frames, and iMovie did not compare to Premiere at that level.

As far as teaching WordPress, my initial presumed target audience was the US Treasury employees. After speaking to coworkers, I discovered they have little interest in learning new technologies. I believe that some are discovering that their lack of interest is holding them back from advancing in their career. But the realization that blogging (social media) is important may not arrive in time for me to have a sufficient audience, so my backup plan is to expand my audience to be anyone, anywhere, anytime by having my coursework online.

I created my WordPress (WP) Part 1 presentation in Apple keynote. The screenshots of WP were created in PhotoShop. I then created my intro (sans photo/video of myself which is to be added later) in Premiere Pro. I found and purchased music to add to the experience. I am happy so far with the results.

I will augment my first video sequence by creating a finished video on the entire process that responds to what I learned; what and how I can improve on as far as instructing others to use WordPress. I hope be able to use this experience and build upon it.  I intend to improve my skills as an instructor/presenter. I will reflect by communicating about the experience and answering inquiries in a discussion on my blog (or/and theirs).

Learners will reflect by commenting in a forum on my blog as well as on their blog through commentary. This is an evolving process and the teacher must keep abreast of the technology as well as abreast of competing technologies.