Week 1: G’day from downunder


Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Rebecca via Compfight

For those who are new to blogging, anything that is in blue colour is a link that you can click on. It will take you to another website. They should open in a new tab or window.

Before we start the actual challenge, please make sure you have read this post as it has some important things you need to have done to make the challenge more enjoyable.

You need to know the difference between a PAGE and a POST.

On the challenge blog, PAGES are found above the header. It depends on which theme you have chosen, but some themes do not have pages visible. You will need to go to dashboard> appearance> widgets and drag over the Pages widget to your sidebar. PAGES usually have information that doesn’t change very often, so on the challenge blog I have the registration page as well as the lists of classes and students that are participating in the challenge.

POSTS are published on the main part of your blog in reverse order, so the newest posts are at the top of your blog. Eventually a post will disappear off the front of your blog – you will still be able to find it by clicking on older entries.

OK Time to start the September challenge

Introducing yourself

Check out how these students, classes and mentors have introduced themselves by using a page or post.

Students

Warrior Kat,  Felix,  Nicole,  Kendall,  Tina,

Classes

5SK in Queensland,  First class Rm 12, Blogs by the sea with Mr Jewell, 3/4 in Tasmania, Tipperary cattle station in Australia, If only the best birds sang from Ireland, Rm 1 from New Zealand,

Mentors and teachers

Dinah, Ms Herring, Mrs Keane, Mrs Yollis, Mrs Muller,

Activity 1- comparison

Write a post comparing the different about me pages. Which one did you like the most and why?

Activity 2 – about me page

Create your own About Me page or post. Be careful about how much personal information you include. Try to be creative in both your words like Felix, or by including visuals like Warrior Kat.

If using Edublogs, here are instructions for creating your page. If using blogspot, check here. If using weebly, check here. If using Kidblog, you will need to write a post.

  1. Login to your blog, go to the dashboard>pages>add new
  2. Change the title to About Me or something similar.
  3. If you only have one row of icons above the box, click on the last icon called the kitchen sink. This opens a second row which allows you to change font colours and to insert from a word document.
  4. In the box, write a bit about yourself remembering to be internet safe. Make sure you have checked out the pages from other students mentioned – many of them have been blogging for a while.
  5. When you have finished click the big blue button on the right side of your screen – probably says update.
  6. Once you have saved your about me page, go back and delete the sample page.
  7. If your theme doesn’t show pages in the header area, then you will need to go to dashboard> appearance> widgets and drag across the Pages one to your sidebar.

Activity 3- apps or websites

What are some apps or websites you could use to create something interesting to add to your About me page? Tell me about them, costs, age to use etc Perhaps a word cloud or glogster – brainstorm as a class.

Creating avatars

Now you have introduced yourself to your readers, you need to have something to show who you are when you leave comments on other blogs. This is called your user avatar. By clicking on each of the images below, you can go to different websites to create your own avatars. These sites are suitable for all ages.

      

   

   

doppelme avatar  

Activity 4 – create user avatar

Create your user avatar. Save it to your own computer drive as a jpeg file format no larger than 200 x 200 pixels. You might need to crop and resize.

If using Edublogs, check here. If using blogspot, check here. If using kidblog, check here. Teacher might need to change some settings in Kidblog to allow students to add own avatars.

Activity 5 – avatars for family

Create a series of avatars to represent your family members. Use different avatar websites depending upon the person’s interests. Write a post about your family and include the avatar for each person. Remember – be internet safe, no personal information.

Activity 6 – Class activity

As a class create a slideshow of your user avatars or add them to your header area. Below is an old example using animoto. Or check out how to customize your header – Mrs Smith has used artwork rather than avatars.

This was my very first Animoto created back in 2009.

 

Activity 7 – Write a post describing your avatar.

How much does it look like you? What sort of personality does your avatar have? What makes it typically you? Remember to include your avatar as an image in your post.

Activity 8 – apps or websites

What are some apps or other websites you could use to create an avatar? Tell me about them, costs, age to use etc  Maybe write a tutorial telling how to create the avatar on that website or app.

Still got time left this week?

As this is our 13th challenge, every week will be an activity to do with good/bad luck, superstition or something similar. Here is this weeks number 13 challenge.

Activity 9 – 13th challenge

The answer is 13. What could the question be?

Don’t just use maths – how else could you get an answer of 13.

Activity 10 – visiting other blogs

One important aspect of blogging is commenting on other blogs. Classes and student participants are grouped according to similar ages. Visit some other blogs, read posts, get ideas from them, leave a comment. Make sure you include your blog URL so they can come to visit your blog.

Most students also have a mentor who will be leaving comments. Make sure you read their comments and reply back to them. In fact, you should reply back to any interesting comments you receive – that is how conversations get started.

Leave a comment on this blog post when you have finished your activity or activities for this week. What activity did you do? Why? What did you enjoy about doing the activity?  What else could we do regarding about me pages and avatars. Remember to include your blog URL so I can come to visit you and leave a comment on your post.

What's on this page?

108 comments on “Week 1: G’day from downunder”

  3. christinajensen

    I loved looking at all the pages. All of them are from places and people far away, so reading them feels a little like traveling around the world! I really like Dinah’s page because her video blog was a nice introduction and reminded me of my own recent college experiences. I also loved Felix’s pages where I could hear his voice and he illustrated while he talked about his life as a Chinese student. He reminds me of my own son, Jesse.

  4. dishaatedublog

    thans for the advise

  5. audreyh21

    Hi Miss W!

    Sorry I forgot to say this, but yes, you can use it in the challenge in March.

    Thanks!
    Audrey

  6. audreyh21

    Hi Miss. W!

    Thank you for the wonderful comment. I’ve actually written a self published novel through Amazon. I did it in fifth grade, and it is available for purchase. Here is the link: http://goo.gl/JYBeCW
    I am starting a blog through school on edublog, so I can post on there. Here it is:http://audreyh21.edublogs.org/
    Thanks!
    Audrey

  16. Jenna

    Hello Miss W,
    I’ve finished challenge 5 pictures and videos. Thanks, I have had a great afternoon. This is the linkhttp://blpsjenna.global2.vic.edu.au/2014/10/21/pictures-and-videos/

  24. naj0001

    Dear Miss W
    I have written to you because I have done the ”All About Me Challenge”. I really like the challenges that you are setting for us.

    I would really like it if you could visit my page at http://blpsnatalia.global2.vic.edu.au/sample-page/

    Sincerely Natalia 🙂

  25. Montaya

    Dear Mrs W

    I would like to let you now I have done the ”All about Me”page.I hope you enjoy my blog.

  26. Charli

    Dear Mrs W,
    I am writing this note for you because I just wanted to let you know that I have written an “About Me” page and I also added an avatar. I am really enjoying the Student Blogging Challenge. Please check out my blog.
    http://blpscharzi.global2.vic.edu.au/sample-page/

  27. Samudra

    Dear Ms. W
    I have written this to you to let you know that I have done the “About Me” page. I have also done the avatar for my blog. I am enjoying doing the Student Blogging Challenge. Please come and visit my page.
    http://blpssamudra.global2.vic.edu.au/sample-page/

  29. Andrew

    Dear Ms. W,
    I’m writing to tell you that I have done student challenge #1. By the way, we all really appreciate you working really hard on the website and the challenges!
    Visit my “About Me” page at http://blpsandrew.global2.vic.edu.au/i-am-unique/

  31. Sanketh

    Dear Mrs W

    I would like you to now that I have finished the “About Me” page.

  34. Ainsley

    Hi Miss.W I’m here to let you know I have done week 1 and I have updated my all about me page and please visit my blog on http://blpsains.global2.vic.edu.au

  35. Meg

    Hello Miss W,
    I have completed my week 1 challenge (about me). I have some very interesting facts About Me on there. I hope you visit my blog. My address is: http://blpsmeg.global2.vic.edu.au.
    Good-bye

  37. Taylah

    Hi Miss W I am here to let you know that I have finished the All About Me task and if you would like to go onto my blog and read some of my posts here is my blog URL http://blpstay.global2.vic.edu.au I hope you can visit and possibly comment on my posts and pages.

  38. Dani

    Hi Miss W I have done the all about me page and I am really enjoying the blogging challenge so far if you would like to see my blog here is the link http://blpsdani.global2.vic.edu.au

  40. Holly

    Dear Miss W,
    I have finished my ‘All About Me’ page. I would really like it if you could visit my blog and read my posts and my all about me page here is my blog address http://blpsholly.global2.vic.edu.au

  41. Emily

    Dear Miss W.
    I would like to tell you that I have finished updating my “All About Me” Page. I hope you can visit my blog and read some of my posts and my “All About Me” page. Heres my blog address: http://blpsemi.global2.vic.edu.au

  45. jayson1am

    Miss Waters,
    I would love to tell you that I have this week’s challenge completed! I would like it if you check out my blog at: http://jayson1am.edublogs.org !

  46. TJ

    TJ | October 17, 2014 at 12:01
    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    Hi! I’m TJ! For week one, I made an All About Me post. I also made a funny avatar that looks just like me! It was really fun to do that! So far, I think that was my favorite thing this blogging challenge! You can see both of them at my site ramlog.aisgz.org/11petersent😉

  47. Vivian

    Dear,ms.W
    On the first week I wrote my all about me post and I started my avatar.
    See you soon,
    Vivian

  48. Jiyoon Kim

    Hi! I’m Jiyoon!
    I did my all about me post and
    making avatar.
    It was fun and it looked so
    similar to me!
    It was fun making it!

  49. creativeblogger

    I completed the avatar and avatar post, about me page and about me post. My blog is at http://bray8638.edublogs.org/, please visit it.

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