5.20+Getting+Started

May 20

I would like to get to know each of you a little better. During the first week, I want you to give me (and the rest of the class) a brief biography of you. It can be personal or professional but I would like it to be at least six pictures with an audio narration. You can use any source you like but here are some suggestions:
 * Your Biography**
 * VoiceThread – http://voicethread.com
 * Narrable - http://narrable.com
 * Yodio – http://yodio.com
 * Jing - http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html
 * and if you want to really go whole hog and you have a Web cam, you can use something like PresentMe – []

I am making this assignment on the first day of class but it is not due until 27 June. You should have posted your audio/video biography by the time of our first Skype session.


 * Getting Started with Your Blog **

The first assignment will be to read chapters from the text and develop a reflection that synthesizes the content into an essay on the theme of the week. The first week's theme is "The Library and the Educational Environment." Your first activity will be to set up your blog. For this exercise, I suggest you use Blogger, [], as it is part of the Google suite of tools. There is no restriction on the blogging software you can use and if you like something better, by all means, go ahead and use it.

After you have completed the first blogging assignment, which is due by midnight Friday, 24 June go to the DISCUSSION BOARD, and post a link to your blog. As is stated in the syllabus, you don't have to read each other's blog but I encourage you to do so and comment as well. As the summer semester is so short, I am not requiring you to comment on other student's postings.

**Setting Up Your Blog**
 * ** Don’t use frilly or decorative fonts. ** Choose something simple and easy to read. There is a reason why fonts like Helvetica are so popular.
 * ** Don’t write over complex backgrounds. ** If you use an illustration as a background for your blog make sure it does not compete with the written word.
 * ** Go for a professional look ** . Save the major decorative elements for your personal blog.
 * ** We want to know you. ** Be sure to upload a picture and complete the About Me section.
 * ** Double space between paragraphs ** . Even though you may have synthesized a number of articles into one essay, be sure to give the reader lots of white space to read what you have so carefully crafted! Use lots of short paragraphs.
 * ** Clearly identify each article reflected on. ** In order for me to understand what you are reflecting on in your blog post be sure to give the **author’s** name of as part of the discussion. (Pentlin says, etc.; Hamilton points out, etc.)
 * ** Synthesis of information. ** Each week has a theme. Write to the theme by finding the common elements in the assigned readings/viewings and reflect on how each item of the assignment adds an element to the topic being discussed.
 * ** Length. ** Length: Each reflection should be long enough to cover the topic. I don't mind if you want to write at length, but some students make it hard on themselves by writing too long. Keep in mind that the Web is generally not for long writing. Stop at approximately 1,000 words.

If you already have a blog started and it meets the requirements above then you can use it for this class as well. I do have to emphasize that you make sure the font and background image (if used) meet the professional standard listed above.

There is a blog rubric in the COURSE INFORMATION section of this class.

If you need help in setting up your blog, I suggest looking for tutorials on YouTube. Here are several to start with:


 * JBroMarketing. "Free Blogger Tutorial 1: How to Start Your Free Blog." //YouTube//. YouTube, 31 Jan. 2012. Web. 07 June 2012. < [] >.
 * Mackenzie, Ali. "BLT How To Set Up Blogger Account." // YouTube // . YouTube, 03 May 2011. Web. 11 June 2012. < [] >.