Learning Call: Blogger Guide & Examples

Blogger is Google's blogging platform. You can register for a blog at Blogger.com and your blog will be created at blogname.blogspot.com

Learning Call Blogger Screencasts

Creating/Editing your
Blogger Blog

How to adjust widths for
Blogger templates

Posting Video to your
Blogger Blog

TeacherTrainingVideos.com Screencasts

Blogger basicsTo get to Blogger, go to Blogger.com or click 'Google Matrix/More' from any Google page (gmail, docs, etc.)

Creating a Blogger Blog
Go to Blogger.com and sign in with your gmail ID and password.

Click 'continue' or 'Continue to Blogger' and set your language to 'English'.

Click 'Create Your Blog Now'

Choose any blog title you wish (it can be simple like Jeff's TTP Blog') The Blog address will be more challenging. You need to check availability for any address you choose. No spaces allowed.

When you have found one, click 'create blog' and you'll see this page. Click which template looks nicest to you. This can be changed later. DO NOT Choose a 'Dynamic View' theme.

Click 'Start Blogging'

Your Dashboard

Your dashboard is were you can control all aspects of you blog. To get there click the orange B in the upper left corner of your screen. To go to a particular section, click on the downward pointing triangle and select the management area you'd like to go to.

Creating Posts / Creating Pages Most of the time, when you create content on your blog, you will create a 'post by clicking 'New Post' at the upper right corner of your blog page or on your Dashbaord.

Blogger 'Pages' are used to create things like an About page or a Contact me page. Pages are usually shown on the top menu, but do not appear on the main page stream of content. Blogger's Page guide is here. In the screenshot below. 'About', Resources, Skills, etc .are 'pages'.

To create a page, click 'Pages' on the side menu. Then click 'New page'

Enter your title and body and 'Publish Page'. Examples of pages you might create include

About Me
My Classes
Contact

Feel free to create additional pages if you wish.

To make sure that these appear in the top menu, go to your dashboard and click Layout. Add a Gadget as shown below.

Add the 'Pages' Gadget to the top menu block of your blog

To add other gadgets, click 'Add a Gadget' and choose from the list. Popular gadgets include

Blog Stats
Search Box
Link List
Top Comments

In order for the gadget to be added, you must click 'Save Arrangement' before leaving that page.

To change the design of your blog, click 'Template' You can select any theme that is shown. To customize your main theme, click 'Customize'. You can also modify your mobile theme by clicking the 'gear' next to Mobile.

To adjust the widths of your of your content layout, click 'Template/ Customize/Adjust Width'. Change the widths to numbers desired. I generally set the total width to '1000' and the sidebar to '240'. Screesnhot below and Screencast here.

Labels Labels are used to create categories for your posts. For example, if TTP Trainees wanted to create a Courses category on their blog. Click ‘New Post’.

Title: My TTP Courses Body: I am taking the following courses as part of the BUFS Teacher Training Program. CALL, Speaking, Writing, Practicum, Extensive Reading Labels (you can copy and paste these): CALL, Speaking, Writing, Practicum, Extensive Reading