getting started

--definitely recommended to tinker around with a blog of your own before using it in a classroom space.

1) go to www.blogger.com (if you don't already have a google account, you will be prompted to create one), www.wordpress.com, or www.livejournal.com. Remember or write down your sign-in name and password. Blogger and Wordpress seem to work the best for classroom spaces. Also, most blogger blogs allow only blogger or google account-registered users to comment, so if students need to comment on one another, they should probably be all or none on blogger or wordpress. The important thing is to be consistent. Livejournal gives access to only one post at a time without easy links to or labels of others, and is a bit more journal-like.

2) follow the on-site instructions to create a blog to your liking, customize the layout, etc.

3) on blogger, the "dashboard" is your starting place, and the green plus sign is where you create a new post. all three systems have very clear instructions and help files.

4) begin posting, and share your blog address (for this blog, it's the one which appears in the browser bar, http://jsger.blogspot.com) with others.