Our final day of the course

It is amazing how quickly 4 weeks goes.

It is really over to the students today: to identify what they don't know, what they need help with.

Learning so often just comes down to practice: you don't really understand how to achieve something until you try it.

Today I have added a poll in the sidebar.
This is a simple gadget - you just have to think of a question and some possible answers.
You can alter the date that the poll closes.

When you add an image to your post, you can decide where it will go in the post - left, centre or right, and you can also determine its size. Sometimes you will need to make it bigger otherwise it will look lost in the post.
If you make it too large it may overlap into the side bar.

Make sure your posts have plenty of white space.
Relatively short lines will help the reader immensely.
White space also helps the post look more attractive, and that is also the benefit of adding an image.

Lots of white space at the bottom of your post is often the result of hidden "enters".
Check your post and delete the enters by placing your cursor at the bottom of the post, and then backspacing until you have reached the last word.

Our tasks today - Using Gadgets

Among other things today we will look at gadgets.

Gadgets or widgets are small tools that often live in the side bar of your blog.
You probably already have some running (like Archive) that have come with your Layout.
To get to Gadgets, choose Design, Layout, and then you will see something similar to this.

Blogger has a number of useful and reliable gadgets to choose from.
Be aware that too many gadgets can slow the speed with which your blog loads.

You can usually edit a Gadget from the front of your blog, by clicking on the tool that follows it.

Our tasks today - Settings

Today in class we will look at things like time settings, comment moderation, inserting images, inserting links, layout tools etc.

Once you are logged into your blog, you will find Settings in Design.

Work through each of the categories, saving any changes as you go.

New Course starting on Thursday

A new Blogging Basics starts this Thursday at the Campbelltown Library in the IT suite on Thursday June 1 at 10.30-12.30.

It is not too late to book a place. Check here
The course is free and runs for 4 weeks.

The course will cater for both newbies and those who already have a blog.

Those who have not yet set up a blog need to make sure they have a gmail account. We will be using Blogger for our course.

Adding interest to your blog

Images often speak louder than words.

My Dad was 94 when this picture was taken.

Our session today

The class is progressing nicely so some of today's lesson will just be revision and a chance to solve problems.

In addition I want to cover

• labels
• formatting (text size, dot points, centering etc)
• hyperlinks
• how to create and activate pages.

 And of course you will get a chance to  create another post.

Your blog may have a world wide audience

 

Your blog is stored on a Google server and is now visible world wide. 

So make it as attractive and readable as you can.

Use images and plenty of white space.

New Blogging Basics Class - February 2017

A new Blogging Basics class will begin on Wednesday February 1 at the Campbelltown Library.

The course will run for 4 weeks, Wednesdays, at 10.30-12.30.
As usual, it will cater for both raw beginners and those with an established blog.
It will be free.
The course will follow the tasks already devised and you can focus on whichever aspects you choose.

See details on the Library website.

You can enrol through your U3A Membership or by Registering with the Library.

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