#3 Set up your own blog & add your first post

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Now that you’ve done some exploring around this website and understand how this program will work, it’s time to set up your very own personal blog to begin recording your thoughts, discoveries and exercises. For this program, we recommend that you use Blogger*, a popular free online blog hosting service that is extremely easy to use.

Creating a blog using Blogger takes just three steps:

1. Create an account (view screenshot)
2. Name your blog (view screenshot)
3. Select your template. (view screenshot)

Once you’ve created your blog here are two important things to know:

• To add posts and edit: You can add posts, edit or change the step-up (including template) of your blog by going to http://www.blogger.com and logging in. Be sure to write down your login and password so you'll remember.

• To view your blog: Your blog address is http://(xxxx).blogspot.com, (xxxx)=the unique identifier you entered in Step 2. Be sure to also write down your blog address.

If you run into problems or would like more information about blogs and using Blogger here are some discovery resources you can use:

• Freevlog’s Quicktime Tutorial: Setup a Free Blogger Blog Note: Ignore the opening comments about downloading Firefox if your PC doesn’t have it. This will work in Explorer and Netscape just fine.
• Blogger’s Quick Tutorial

OK -- Now, it’s your turn...

Discovery Exercise:

1. Setup a blog for yourself through Blogger*
   
2. Add a test post or two.
   Note: Use one of your test posts to create an entry about the habits among the 7 and 1/2 lifelong learning habits that is easiest and hardest for you & why.
   
3. Create a discovery post for each of the ’23 Things.’Please clearly label each entry in your blog by titling each post with the week and thing to which it refers. For example: Week 1, Thing 1: About This Program, Week 1, Thing 2: Pointers from Lifelong Learners. Each of your posts should provide insights into what you’ve discovered and learned. Feel free to share what worked for you … and what didn’t … what surprised you … what frustrated you … what amazed you.

IMPORTANT NOTE: How you choose to identity yourself on your blog is up to you. You can blog under a screen name, anonymously, or with your real name. Either way, in the next thing ("Thing 4"), you'll need to register your blog with your liaison. We need you to register so that 1) we can post a link to your blog in the Participants list. This way, everybody can share what they are learning and ask each other questions. And 2) you'll also want to register you're blog if you want to qualify for CEUs and any prizes that your library organization can make available. Your personal information will not be published anywhere on this site. It will only be your blog link.

* Use of Blogger is only a recommendation. If there is another blog hosting site that you are more comfortable with, please feel free to use it.