Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts

March 03, 2012

PD 109 - Writing for Social Media workshop (key outline)

Personality (what is your personal brand? How do you want to be seen/ associated with?)

Timing (must this be pubished now? How's the social media weather? What would your mother/ potential employer think?) )

Story (what's the hook?)

Editing
- inverted triangle
- one leg standing
- tree in the forest
(play charades)

5 Things That Shouldn’t Be On Your Facebook
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/5-things-that-shouldnt-be-on-your-facebook/

August 31, 2011

May 30, 2008

Workshop 1.3 – New Media – How to set up a school library blog with no budget

School Library Symposium - 30 May 2008, Jointly organized by NLB & MOE

Workshop 1.3 – New Media – How to set up a school library blog with no budget

By Mr. Ivan Chew, Manager, Adults & Young People’s Services


Aims of the session:

  • Understand how blogs can be used as publicity tools to engage students and the school community

  • Through a hands-on exercise, learn how to create and manage a school library blog

  • Learn how to engage bloggers and users in the blogosphere


YOUR ASSIGNMENT FOR THE NEXT 1.5 HOURS

  1. Create a blog with Blogger.com
  2. Publish at least THREE posts (suggestions: Record the learning points from this workshop. Or interview the person next to you.)
  3. Add your blog here, by leaving a comment
  4. Delete your blog (if you choose to do so)

CREATING A BLOGGER.COM BLOG - ON-SCREEN NOTES: START HERE

REFERENCES


Questions & Comments? Contact me via my blog.

A highly subjective and biased list of social media tools for libraries, librarians, library school coordinators

Here's a highly subjective and biased list of social media tools for libraries, librarians, library school coordinators :)

Useful stuff for librarians/ libraries


Blogs, Wikis & other social media platforms


RSS/ Feed Readers/ Alerts


Search
Blog search: Blogsearch.google.com | Technorati.com
Blog 'Bulletins': Tomorrow.sg | Yesterday.sg

Statistical tools - www.sitemeter.com | www.statcounter.com | www.google.com/analytics

Discussion forums/ mailing lists: groups.yahoo.com | groups.google.com

May 26, 2008

Updated: Creating blogs with Blogger.com

DISCLAIMER: I created this post as an aid for the blog courses I conduct. They are not endorsed by Google or Blogger.com.

Click on the images to view additional notes.

Login/ Create Blog
Blogger: Create your Blog Now -- FREE
Go to Blogger.com to sign up for an account.

STEP 1: Create a Google account
Blogger: Create Blogger Account
You need a Google user account in order to create a blog with Blogger.com ('cos Blogger.com is owned by Google).

You don't need to create an account if you already have Google-related accounts like Gmail and Google Groups (read the instructions below the header "Create a Google Account".

Blogger.com requires you to enter an email address (you can always create an additional email account Gmail, Yahoo! or Hotmail).

TIP: Write down all the addresses/ IDs/ passwords that you create along the way. And keep this safe (destroy it once you've committed it to memory). Some participants get confused after signing up for a few things along the way, that they can't log in to their accounts when they try to do after the session)

The Word Verification is a feature for blogger to ensure it's a human being that's creating an account, rather than an automatic program (spambot).


IMPORTANT: Keep your password secret. Google will never, ever ask you for your passwords. If you ever receive any emails asking you for your account ID and passwords, read it very very carefully and you probably should ignore it. Because they are likely to be scam mails.


STEP 2: Name your blog
Blogger: Name your blog
Here, you're required to enter a Title for your blog and the blog URL (the blog title can easily be changed later, from your Settings Tab. For the URL, it can also be changed provided it's not taken up by someone else. So at this stage, it's best to choose wisely at this stage).

TIP: Use the Check Availability link to confirm that your desired URL is available. Then write the URL for easy reference.


STEP 3: Choose a template
Blogger: Choose a template
Choose a blog template. You can always change the design later. So don't spend too much time at this stage. There aren't much designs to choose from and you can spend more time customising your blog later.

Confirmation of new blog
Blogger: You are done
Congratulations! You now have a blog.

Create/ Publish Post
Blogger: My demo blog - Create Post
This is where you create a new post. It's almost like composing and sending an email.

Dashboard
Blogger: Dashboard
When you next login to Blogger.com, you'll see your Dashboard. This is where you can create a new blog, and also access your existing blog(s).

Settings tab
Blogger: My demo blog - Basic Settings
Go to the Settings Tab to:
  • Change the blog name or description
  • Delete your blog
  • Change your blog URL
  • Blog formatting (date/ time settings)
  • Comment Moderation/ Image Verification/ Email notification
  • Permissions to view/ post to your blog

Layout tab
Blogger :: Edit Layout
The Layout Tab is where you can:
  • Add "Page Elements" (these are things like a blogroll, counters, HTML codes for stats etc.)
  • Change your fonts and colours
  • Edit your blog HTML template directly
  • Pick a new Blogger.com template

For more tips on using Blogger.com, read this post.

[This is an updated post, from an earlier one, dated Nov 2006]

Creative Commons License

This work by Ivan Chew is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. For permissions beyond the scope of this license , please contact via RamblingLibrarian@gmail.com.

May 23, 2008

Tips on using BLOGGER.COM

Some links from Blogger.com's Help pages that I feel all new Blogger.com users ought to know. These tend to the the Frequently Asked Questions from those new to blogger.


More tips, for blogging newbies:

#1 - Write down your User ID, Password, and Blog URL somewhere (keep it safe, until you've committed it to memory).
I've seen many people get all caught up in the excitement of creating a new blog for the first time that they forget their User name, password or the blog URL. They'd lament that they can't find their blog or login etc.

#2- When creating your new blog, just choose a blog design quickly. And move on!
I've personally experienced this myself -- you spend ages choosing and mulling over the blog design template, colours, layout etc. My advice is to just quickly choose a design to get through the process. It's more important to familiarise yourself with how the Dashboard (the admin stuff) works. You can always change the design later.

#3 - Choose a consistent blog name with your URL
For instance, if I want my blog to be called "Rambling Librarian", then my preferred URL is also "RamblingLibrarian.blogspot.com". This is for consistency.

#4 - Blogger.com Vs Blogspot.com
I get this alot: Newbie creates a blogger.com blog. Then says "my blog can't be found". I'd tell them to check the URL. The blog URL should be "blogSPOT.com" and not "blogger.com". Example:
  • MyFirstBlog.blogger.com is incorrect
  • MyFirstBlog.blogspot.com is the correct URL
So far, only Blogger.com has this sort of arrangement. If you signup for a Wordpress.com blog, your blog url would be MyFirstBlog.wordpress.com. See what I mean about consistency? :)

[See also: Creating blogs with Blogger.com, 26 May 2008]


Creative Commons License

This work by Ivan Chew is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. For permissions beyond the scope of this license , please contact via RamblingLibrarian@gmail.com.

September 21, 2007

Additional/ Updated references for "Overview on the "W & H" of Blogging and New Media" - 21 Sept 2007

This is an updated version of the "Overview on the "W & H" of Blogging and New Media" handout:

Singapore Government Agency Blogs
[Missed out the library@Orchard blog, REACH, and "10,000 Reading Fathers" in the original handout]

What is Web 2.0.?
Read this article.

What is Creative Commons?
Watch the video here.

Introduction to SecondLife

September 13, 2007

Talk on "Overview on the "W & H" of Blogging and New Media" - 21 Sept 2007

As published at Civil Service College website:

Programme Category: Public Administration - Communications

Course Title: Talk on "Overview on the "W & H" of Blogging and New Media"

Synopsis: This introductory talk gives us an overview on blogging in the new media landscape. The Internet space has created a global village for spirited and borderless communication, information sharing and learning. The advent of new media has renewed the dynamism of the cybersphere, particularly in the use of blogs.

Join us for this talk and learn how to use blogs and the basics of other new media tools. Understand the impact these new communication channels have created in our social and work environment and also learn where and how to explore their use further. Keep yourself up to date with the latest in communications.

Objective: By the end of the talk, you would be able to:
  • understand the differences between traditional media and new media, with emphasis on blogging
  • gain insights into the latest trends in blogging, the use of other new media tools, the reasons why people express themselves using new media and how blogging can be applied in the context of public communications

Course Outline:
  • Traditional Media vs New Media - impact on the social environment and the public sector
  • What are the new media tools?
  • Blogging
  1. How do blogs differ from traditional websites and other online communications tools?
  2. What is blogging and why do people blog?
  3. Basic blogging etiquette
  4. Latest trends in blogging - how blogs are being used by organisations and individuals

  • Overview of other new media tools:
  1. Podcasting/vodcasting
  2. Online videos
  3. RSS
  4. Wikis
  5. Virtual worlds

Trainers/ Facilitators: Ivan Chew

Schedule Information: 21/09/2007
Time: 2.30pm - 4.30pm
Course Fee: Complimentary
Additional Fee Info: A new initiative by CSC, IPAM to bring new media tools to our public officers.

---------------------------------------
Trainer Details
Ivan Chew has been trained as a professional librarian. Ivan graduated with 1st Class honours from the University of London in Information Systems and Management. Subsequently, he pursued a MSc (Information Studies) from Nanyang Technology University. He is in charge of Adult & Young People's Services in NLB where he manages a team of librarians in delivering services, organizing talks, workshops and outreach programmes to schools, organisations as well as local and overseas community partners. He has been training on Blogging and Podcasting workshops on numerous occasions. Currently he has 6 blogs and 1 podcast. A man of many talents, he can draw, paint as well as play guitar for an amateur band. He also counts blogging, poetry writing and playing piano as his interests. Ivan has also taken a keen interest in Library Services for People with Disabilities.



Source: www.cscollege.gov.sg/page.asp?id=75&course_id=875
Last accessed 12 Sept 2007

March 03, 2007

RSI interview: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr George Yeo

Minister George Yeo (who guest-blogs at Beyond.SG and at Ephraim's) explains what led him to try out blogging -- read this interview transcript from the Radio Singapore International webpage:
You’ve recently said that you had to learn new tricks. What were some of these new tricks you had to learn?

Language is different. There is a certain casual informality about blogs, which makes it easy to read and makes it acceptable in the medium. If you’re too stuffy or officious, I think it’s a turnoff...

...If you’re too professional, then people get bored, they feel that it’s not appropriate. Sometimes it’s better for the pictures to be a little grainy, they look informal, more sincere more spontaneous.

There is a voyeur side to everybody; if it’s a picture that’s perfect then it’s intended for me to look at, but if it’s grainy it’s almost as if I’m peering over somebody’s shoulder and overhearing a conversation, which is a different experience.

So these are aspects of communication which I’m understanding a bit better now.

See also: Mr. George Yeo's reflections on his BlogTV.sg interview (Jan '07).

November 12, 2006

Blog learning resource: 10 tips for a great blog

Here's a very nice and concise presentation (PDF) on how to blog well:
10 Ways to a Killer Blog - Getting noticed in the new word-of-mouth network
by Robert and Maryam Scoble, PodTech.net

I also recommend that you read this book for more detailed explanation of the concepts covered in the above presentation:
cover
Publisher: Wiley
ISBN: 047174719X

November 04, 2006

Creating blogs with Blogger.com

[First posted at RamblingLibrarian]
UPDATE - See New Blogger Features (Dec 2006) + updated post (26 May 2008).

Due to repeated requests for the screenshots in creating blogs with Blogger.com, I've gotten over my procrastination and posted them in the blog. Yeah, I should've done it earlier... well, better late than never. The steps and screens are correct as of 1st Nov 2006 (once Blogger.com cuts over to the new Blogger Beta version, the features and interface might have changed).

Click on the images for the larger-sized screen-shots:

Step 1 - Blogger - Login/ Create Blog
Blogger - Login/ Create Blog
This is where you you create a blog, or login to your Blogger account - Blogger.com (additional notes in Flickr.com - click here)

Blogger - Step 1 in Creating An Account
Blogger - Step 1 in Creating An Account
You are required to choose a User Name for your blogger account. Blogger uses Image Verification rather than Email Verification in accepting accounts. The email you enter is for things like "password reminder" rather than for creating an account with Blogger. If your preferred User Name has been taken, you'd be required to enter an alternative. Your User Name does not necessarily have to be your Blog Name or Display Name (i.e. you may wish to choose something totally unrelated to your blog name for additional security).

Blogger - Step 2: Name your blog
Blogger - Step 2: Name your blog
Here, you're required to enter a Title for your blog and the blog URL (these can be changed later; for the URL it will be subject to availability, so it's best to choose wisely at this stage). The Word Verification is a feature for blogger to ensure it's a human being that's creating an account, rather than an automatic program (spambot).

Blogger - Step 3: Choose a template
Blogger - Step 3: Choose a template
Click on any of the design. Tip -- you can always choose a new template, so simply choose anyone to proceed and complete your registration/ blog creation process. My observation is that most "Blogger newbies" spend way too much time at this stage, and adds unnecessary delay in registering the blog.

Blogger - After Step 3
Blogger - After Step 3
You're almost there...

Blogger - Confirmation of new blog
Blogger - Confirmation of new blog
Congratulations! You now have a blog. But you if you try to visit your blog URL, you'll get a 404 Page Not Found message. Don't worry -- you see your blog once you publish at least one post. Which is why blogger will bring you directly to...

Blogger - Create/ Publish Post
Blogger - Create/ Publish Post
This is where you create a new post. It's almost like composing and sending an email. More explanatory notes are at the Flickr.com image - click here)

Technorati Tags: ,

July 22, 2006

Links & References for LAS Blog course, Jul/ Aug 2006 (Part 2)

[This post continues from Part 1. It will be updated up till the 2nd run of the LAS blog course on 4th Aug '06]

Selected introductory readings:
  • Soliciting for ideas on how the Library can reach out to people who find it physically inconvenient to get to the library (via High Browse Online)
  • Ebay will use tagging to help it get organized (via Library Journal Blog - LJ Tech Blog)
  • The Power of Blogs - (Another LJ blog article, with a few related topics in the post. As you read the post, reflect upon the tone and writing style of the post, i.e. similarities/ differences to the print version of Library Journal. Of particular interest is the post's mention about cashless payment in libraries, i.e. did you find that useful? Would something like that be published in the typical print journal?)
  • Portrait of a Blogger: Under 30 and Sociable - WashingtonPost.com article commenting on a survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project: "More than half of bloggers are younger than 30, and a majority use their blogs as a mode of creative expression, the survey found. Money-making possibilities motivate only 15 percent of bloggers, and most blog on a variety of topics, with 11 percent focusing on politics."
  • Technorati.com screencast - Quicktime Movie on the newly unveiled (Jul 2006) Technorati website. Includes an overview of the features and services.
  • Laptops give hope to homeless (Wired News) - How blogs are used by the homeless to reach out and express themselves (via Blogger Buzz)


Selected Library Associations with blogs:

Singapore Library Blogs (for public access)

Librarianship-related collaborative blogs (initiated in Singapore)

July 19, 2006

Flickr.com Demonstration

This was taken when the participants went for their teabreak:
NLB Academy - LAS Blog Course 19 Jul 06

July 18, 2006

Links & References for LAS Blog course, Jul/ Aug 2006

References for blog course for LAS: "Blogs, Tagging, RSS, Podcasts: Heresay, Hype, and Hogwash?" Jul/ Aug, 2006.

[NOTE: Part 2 continues here]

On blogs and stuff
- 10 points on Blogs & RSS
- Starting a new blog
- Using Bloglines (via Preetam)
- Using Flickr (via Preetam)
- Using Technorati Tags (via Preetam)
- Using PubSub (via Preetam)

Who's Blogging? (just a sample, mind you)
- Cherian George's Air-conditioned Nation
- Cherian George's Singapore: New Media, Politics & the Law
- Lawrence Lessig (Founder & Chairman of Creative Commons)
- Lam Chun See's Good Morning Yesterday (probably Singapore's oldest blogger!)
- Tan Tarn How (policy researcher with IPS)
- Matt Cutts (google employee)
* Librarians (see Liblogarians links in next section)

Selected links to blogs/ sites with feeds
- Audio feeds
- ASK! Blog (NLB's public library services Advisory & Enquiry weblog)
- Authors/ Publishers Blog
- AustralianBlogs + Australian Podcasts + News2.0
- BookBlogs
- Blog Timeline.SG ("A timeline of significant events in the Singapore blogosphere")
- Education
- Internet Archive
- Instructables
- Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD Blog)
- LibrariesInteract ("Blog central for libraries in Australia")
- Liblogarians - Singapore
- Liblogarians - USA
- Liblogarians - UK
- Liblogarians - Australia
- Law Blogs
- Library - HKUL
- Library - NYPL
- Library - NLB
- Library News/ Research
- Singapore Heritage feeds
- Tomorrow.sg
- Yesterday.sg
- Yahoo! Search Blog
(To view all my Bloglines Subscriptions, click here)

EXERCISES:
1) Inserting images for blog posts
Here are sample HTML codes. Copy and paste the codes to your blog post and see how they turn out (remember to replace the "*" portions with "<" and ">" respectively):
*a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramblinglibrarian/153598467" title="Photo Sharing"**img src="http://static.flickr.com/55/153598467_8fbb8d369c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Singapore Short Stories"**/a*

*a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramblinglibrarian/138240722/" **img src="http://static.flickr.com/53/138240722_375dcffdb4_m.jpg" width="240" height="222" alt="Macro_Orchid 0406"**/a*

*a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramblinglibrarian/131272959/"**img src="http://static.flickr.com/50/131272959_a5ab2f3210.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Mushroom 190406"**/a*

*a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramblinglibrarian/131915800/"**img src="http://static.flickr.com/56/131915800_be07f06f81.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Oven Fresh Cookies - Macro"**/a*

*a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramblinglibrarian/138240721/"**img src="http://static.flickr.com/52/138240721_eaaf32f7ba.jpg" width="355" height="500" alt="Macro_Gloxinia"**/a*

2) Group Activity - writing blog posts
- Try writing a blog post individually.
- Next try working together in groups of 2 or 3
- Consider a theme/ topic

Course for Library Association of Singapore: An introduction to Blogs and related technologies, and its applications in Libraries

As posted at the Library Association of Singapore calendar page:
Title:
Blogs, Tagging, RSS, Podcasts: Heresay, Hype, and Hogwash?
An introduction to Blogs and related technologies, and its applications in libraries


Conducted by : Mr Ivan Chew
Ivan holds a BSc (Econs) & a MSc. (Information Studies). His current job is to develop and manage the Adults & Young People's (AYP) services, working with a team of AYP librarians to look into collection, programmes and services in the public libraries. At last count, he has five blogs.

Date/Time:
19 Jul 06, 2pm - 5pm (update: Additional run scheduled for 4 Aug 06)

Venue:
NLB Academy
Carnegie Room
Toa Payoh Community Library
Level 3, 6 Toa Payoh Central
Singapore 319191

Course Fees:
LAS Member: $50.00
Non-LAS Members : $60.00

Class size : 10 (min) - 24 (max)

Closing date : 12 Jul 2006

Outline of course:

1. "Blogs" in the Singapore context
2. Define & understand "blogging" terminologies
3. Examples of blogs in education and libraries
4. How does one create a blog? (Hands-on)
5. Introduction to blog-related resources for content creation and searching (RSS, flickr.com, podcasting, tagging/ folksonomy/ technorati.com, blog search engines etc)
6. Discussion of possible applications, legal and ethical issues in the context of libraries

You will have a hands-on experience on blogging.

How you will benefit

After attending the course, the participants will:
- have an overview of blogging
- understand more about RSS, podcasting
- learn how to use these new technologies to better serve your library users

Target Audience

All information services professionals with backgrounds in libraries


Source: las.org.sg/calendar.htm#BLOGS (last accessed 18 Jul 06)

July 12, 2006

Intro to Blogs workshop, by Kevin Lim (Feb 06)

Kevin (theory.isthereason.com) posts his workshop content, including links to his presentation slides and PDF handouts. Summary of the outline posted in his blog:
- INTRODUCTION
- EXAMPLES OF SCHOLARLY BLOGS
- THE SOFT-SIDE OF BLOGGING
- THE HARD-SIDE OF BLOGGING
- WHAT IS RSS AND HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO THEM?
- SIGNING UP WITH BLOGGER.COM
- GETTING STARTED WITH BLOGGING
- RELATED REFERENCES


Read his full post here.

Technorati Tags: Blog Workshop, Blog Course

February 15, 2006

SAOUG Blog Course Practice: "Would South African Librarians embrace blogging?"

Question: Would South African Librarians embrace blogging? What is the level of readiness?

Comments & responses please.

February 11, 2006

Schedule: SAOUG - Blogging 101 for Dummies workshop (13 Feb - 17 Feb 2006)

South African Online User Group "Blogging 101 for Dummies workshop":

Participants will learn what a blog is, learn how to create blogs, name their blogs, how to post comments, change the template of the blog, and how to delete their blog (in fact everything you wish to know about blogs). It will be a practical hands-on workshop.

-----------------------------------------------------------
SCHEDULE (Mon, 13 Feb - Fri 17, Feb 2006)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Monday, 13 Feb
Venue Medical Library, University of Pretoria
Session 1: 8:00-12:00
Session 2: 13:00-17:00

Tuesday, 14 Feb
Venue Dynamix Training Centre, Witkoppen Road, Sunninghill
Session 1: 8:00-12:00
Session 2: 13:00-17:00

Wednesday, 15 Feb
Venue Dynamix Training Centre, Witkoppen Road, Sunninghill
Session 1: 8:00-12:00
Session 2: 13:00-17:00

Thursday, 16 Feb
Venue University of Johannesburg, Kingsway Campus
Session 1: 9:00-13:00
[Depart in afternoon from Johannesburg International to Cape Town for session in Cape Town, then back to Johannesburg the next day]
Time 3:55 PM - Depart JNB for CPT on British Airways.
Arrive 6:05 PM

Friday, 17 Feb
Venue University of Stellenbosch
Session 1: 9:00-13:00
[Depart in evening from Cape Town for Johannesburg]
Time 6:45 PM - Depart CPT for JNB on British Airways
Arrive 8:55 PM


Saturday, 18 Feb
Depart for Singapore.


Related post - Blogging in South Africa (SAOUG Blog Course, Part 1)


Tag:

February 10, 2006

What is RSS? (illustrated)

I thought this illustrates the point rather well. From Kevin:
Web 2.0 Workshop Sneak Preview: What is RSS?
[Click image to see larger picture]

January 08, 2006

Example of using blogs to share a more "human side" of ourselves to colleagues

This was an early post of mine, about my dog. In blogging something as personal and mundane as the name of my dog, I was trying to show how blogging could be used as a tool for social networking and expanding the readers' learning capacity (by introducing them to books in the library collection). Effectively, what I did was to link keywords in my blog post to catalogue entries in the library OPAC.

I also discovered that people who googled for "schnauzer" also visited my blog. From the comments (like this one), my colleagues and I were able to share and discuss something that we normally wouldn't have an opportunity to talk about in a work-setting:
Max, the Mini Schnauzer: Blogs as tools for Social Networking and Expanding Learning Capacity
While thinking of a name for our dog, my wife and I surprisingly came up with the same name, but for different reasons. I was thinking of Maximus, the Gladiator [NLBLink 7821448/ NLBLink 10127342] played by Russell Crowe. My wife too, came up with the name, Max. But she was really thinking about main character in the cartoon series "The Transformers" [NLBLink 11795414], Optimus Prime, except that she mistakenly thought the heroic robot was called "Maximus Prime".


Click on this Technorati Tag () to read similar posts "tagged" by other bloggers (think of "tags" as Subject Headings to link related posts).