Module #4- "CARP"ing and Commenting in Blogger

Hello Class!

Now that you have a basic understanding of web design, we will apply those ideas to your blog. We will also spend some time learning the basics for commenting on someone else's blog.

Objectives for this Module:
Students will learn...

• how to apply basic CARP rules of design to your own blog
• basic rules for how to appropriately and thoughtfully comment on another blogger's blog

Activities and Materials

• Must Complete #1: Make sure that you have added all of our class blog urls onto your reader list.
• Must Complete #2: Go into the view or "front end" of your blog. This is the way anyone who reads your blog will see it. Test your blog against the CARP rules of design using this checklist.
• Must Complete #3: Make appropriate changes to your blog to ensure that you are using correct contrast, alignment, repetition and proximity, where you see fit. Use the backend features of "customize your template" and "layout" to make these changes. If you need help understanding how to use layout in your back-end, click here.
• Must Complete #4: Watch this very fantastic, cute video about commenting on someone else's blog, made by some first graders in California. 
• Must Complete #5: During our synchronous time together in class, we will take this quiz (your game pin will be given to you in class). This quiz will show your understanding about commenting.
• Must Complete #6: Go onto the class blog urls list. Choose at least 3 different blogs to looks at, read, and comment on. Make sure to use the tips for commenting that you learned earlier in this module. You can comment on a specific blog post, or on the overall layout and design of the blogger.

Checklist Of Must Completes for Module #4:

______ You made sure that your blog url is added to the class list
______ You used the CARP checklist to test the design strength of your blog
______ You made appropriate changes to the design of your blog using the back-end layout and template customizer
______ You watched the tips video on how to appropriately comment on another person's blog
______ You took the quiz on tips for commenting with classmates in our synchronous session
______ You commented on at least three different classmate's blog (either on a specific post or in regards to the design of their blog in whole)

If you have questions...

Comment in the comment section of the Pages titled "Questions/Comments"

Module #3- Basic Rules of Web Design

Hello Class!

You have a blog, you've thought about online privacy, and you've started to get an idea of the kind of look/feel you want your blog to have. Today we will focus on personalizing your blog so that you can really portray your ideas in a clear and unique way.

Objectives for this Module:
Students will learn...

• CARP principles of design
• how to apply these basic web design principles to an original presentation
• how to add new blogs to your Blogger reader list

Activities and Materials

• Must Complete #1: You have been assigned a group. Within your group, each of you have been assigned a topic. Your job is to become knowledgeable of your topic, using the resources provided (and your own).

(Group member names here)

Contrast Define Contrast as it relates to visual design. Search for three examples of Contrast in print design (i.e., logos, brochures, posters, business cards, stationary). Search for three examples of Contrast in web design.

about.com: Contrast Print Design Collection AIGA Design Archives Website Gallery Webby Awards

(Group member names here)

Alignment Define Alignment as it relates to visual design. Search for three examples of Alignment in print design (i.e., logos, brochures, posters, business cards, stationary). Search for three examples of Alignment in web design.

about.com: Alignment Print Design Collection AIGA Design Archives Website Gallery Webby Awards

(Group member names here)

Repetition Define Repetition as it relates to visual design. Search for three examples of Repetition in print design (i.e., logos, brochures, posters, business cards, stationary). Search for three examples of Repetition in web design.

about.com: Repetition Print Design Collection AIGA Design Archives Website Gallery Webby Awards

(Group member names here)

Proximity Define Proximity as it relates to visual design. Search for three examples of Proximity in print design (i.e., logos, brochures, posters, business cards, stationary). Search for three examples of Proximity in web design.

about.com: Proximity Print Design Collection AIGA Design Archives Website Gallery Webby Awards

(source)

• Must Complete #2: With your group, choose a way to present your collective learning. Each member in the group needs to contribute a slide (or more) depicting the key pieces to your topic. Your presentation as a group, must follow the CARP rules of design, and each individual slide to pay particular visual attention to the topic of the slide.
• Here are some suggestions for Web 2.0 presentation resources you may use to create your unique presentation:
• Google Presentations
• Prezi
• Animoto
• Voice Thread
• Your own creative choice
• Must Complete #3: Once your group presentation is complete, post it to the CARP rules of design page.
• Must Complete #4: Comment on at least one other group's presentation. Do they follow the rules of CARP? Is there something they added that helped you understand the rules in a bigger way? Something they may have missed? Follow the rules set up in our discussion rubric to thoughtfully give feedback in this activity.
• Must Complete #5: Use this this shared document to get URLs for all of the bloggers in this class. Add everyone's blog to your Reader Lists next class. Need help figuring out how to add to your Reader List? Click here.

Checklist Of Must Completes for Module #3:

______You joined a group and were assigned a topic of CARP to research

______You created a joint group presentation on your topic, making sure to follow basic rules of design.

______You posted a link to our CARP presentation page
______You added a thoughtful comment to at least one other group's presentation

______You added other student's blog urls to your Blogger reader list

If you have questions...

Comment in the comment section of the Pages titled "Questions/Comments"

Module #2- Welcome to Blogger

Hello Class!

Now that you have a Blogger account, and the beginnings of a blog, we are going to spend some time looking at the back-end of your blog. Don't know what a back-end is? Perfect. Hopefully by the end of class you will, and you'll know how to navigate the look/feel/privacy/posts of your blog to make it your own.

Objectives for this Module:
Students will learn...

• basics of online privacy and how to protect themselves when posting online
• what a back-end of a blog is and how to find their back-end (ha!, no. seriously)

Activities and Materials

• Must Complete #1: Watch this short video about the Digital Footprint
• Must Complete #2: Read this article about digital natives (you) and online privacy "Facebook Generation Rekindles Expectation of Privacy Online"
• Must Complete #3: Is the issue of online privacy important to you, why or why not? Answer this question by clicking the "comment" link below to add your new comment, with your original thoughts. Check back throughout the week and add a reply to another student's comments as well. Click here to see what kinds of comments are expected in this online discussion.
• Must Complete #4: Look through this support document that explains the basics of the back-end of Blogger. After you get a sense of how to navigate,
• Go into your back end and play with the features described in how to Customize your blog (the look/feel). Add a new background picture, change the layout, customize the text...(we will talk more about proper design techniques later, for this class just get accustomed to working in this section of your back-end).
• Set your privacy settings so that only registered Blogger user/Google users can comment and see it.
• In your privacy settings, change the moderation to "always" and include your email so that you can see comments before they're posted on your page.
• If you want, add a new post or add a gadget to your page (both described in the support document)
• Must Complete #5: Lastly, add your name, and blog url, to this shared document. We will add everyone's blog to our Reader Lists next class.

Checklist Of Must Completes for Module #2:

______You watched "Digital Footprint"

______You read "Facebook Generation Rekindles Expectation of Privacy Online"

______You participated with thoughtful comments about online privacy, and replied to other posters.

______You became familiar with the back-end of Blogger (specifically, how to customize the look and feel of your blog, and changed the privacy settings)

______You posted your blog url to our shared document so others can start to follow you.

If you have questions...

Comment in the comment section of the Pages titled "Questions/Comments"

Module #1- What's a Blog?

Welcome to Ms. Barcheck’s Desktop Publishing class. In this class you will learn what a blog is, how to create a blog, how to design a blog, how to comment on other blogs and interact with your audience, and how to use different Web 2.0 apps to enhance your blog’s content and your intended message. Since this is the first module in your online experience in this class, we’ll take some time getting to get acquainted with the concept of a blog.

Objectives for this Module:
Students will learn...

• what a blog is
• how it is different than a website
• about different types/styles of blogs out there today
• how to create a blog and make a basic post

Activities and Materials

• Must Complete #1: Read the article "Of Blogs and Bloggers" and the video embedded on this article.
• Must Complete #2: In the section called Find That Blog in the Of Blogs and Bloggers article, there are two links to find examples of successful blogs. Spend some time searching those links. You will need to find three different blogs that you like and want to share with your classroom peers later in this module.
• Must Complete #3: Watch this tutorial or follow this picture slideshow and create your own blog (we will work on the setup and design in Module 2, so just focus on getting it created today).
• Key Steps to Follow:
• Create your blog in Blogger
• Make sure you use your BVSD google sign in/password
• You can title your blog anything you want, as long as it's school appropriate
• Please follow this structure for your blog url: 
• [last four numbers of your lunch code]angevine.blospot.com
• example: 5674angevine.blogspot.com
• Must Complete #4: Add a "new post" in your new blog (for help in navigating your blog backend and how to post, click here and look at step 10 and beyond). In your new post include:
• Three blogs you found in your searching (in must complete #2) that you want to share with the class. Include why you are sharing the blog, what was the most eye-catching/interesting part of the blog to you, and one idea from this blog you may consider using in your own blog (it may be a topic they write about, the style of the blog, or something else that you find unique).
• Must Complete #5: Let's do a check for understanding- quick quiz to see what you know/still need to know about what a blog is.

Checklist Of Must Completes for Module #1:

______You read/watched "Of Blogs and Bloggers"

______You searched good examples of blogs/bloggers that interest you

______You created your own blog through Blogger

______You posted your first blog post

______You completed the quick quiz on the basics of a blog

If you have questions...

Comment below this post by clicking the Page tab titles "Questions/Comments"