Welcome to iHCPL. This site was created to support Harris County Public Library's iHCPL Learning 2.0 Program; a discovery learning program designed to encourage staff to explore new technologies and reward them for doing 23 Things. The program is adapted from The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County's Learning 2.0 Program.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Week 2: #3 Grab Yourself a Blog in 3 Steps



If you aren't able to view the embedded video, click here.

Now that you 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.
  2. Name your blog.
  3. Select your template.

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

  • To add posts: The maintenance interface that you will use to add posts, edit or change the set-up of your blog is accessed online at http://www.blogger.com/ . Be sure to write down your login and password.
  • 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:

OK --- Now, it's your turn...

Discovery Exercise:

Each day at work is a new learning experience, especially in the public library! Use the first post in your new blog to explore what is your own individual learning style.

  1. Setup a blog for yourself using Blogger.
  2. Add a test post or two. Use one of your posts to write about which learning habits from the tutorial are easiest for you, which are hardest and why.
  3. Register your blog and yourself for the program.
  4. Have fun!!!

Important Note: How you choose to identify yourself on your blog is your choice. You can blog under a screen name, anonymously or as yourself. However, in order to qualify for training hours, you need to register using the iHCPL registration form located on Harriet.

* 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.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I registered my blog yesterday, but I don't see it listed on the "Participants" list? Any suggestions?

iSTAR said...

iStar is simply overwhelmed by the number of participants registering! iStar manually enters the registered blogs in the participants list, and does that about 3 times a day. The rest of the time, iStar has some other things to do. Your blog will get listed! If you don't see it listed within 1-2 working days (Monday-Friday), please email Grace at grace @ hcpl.net (minus the spaces).

mph123 said...

It will be fun to learn new things with the computer that I do not know how to do. It will be very helpful.