Edvibes Blog

Are you looking for another class from around the world to set up a pen pal like relationship with?

Go to http://edvibes.wikispaces.com/Class+Blog+Pen+Pal+Link+Up

then edit to sign up and link up with another class.

See also http://youngwriters07.wikispaces.com/

Update: Thanks to the classroom2.0 network I found another great resource to connect with other classroom epals.com 

I have been stuck for a couple months on the easiest and safest way to share class pictures on the web. I started with flickr but found it just isn’t very easy for new users to pick up on and learn how to use. So recently I decided to try Google Picasa’s Web Albums with their public and private unlisted albums feature. (read more about What’s the difference between public albums and those that are unlisted? from Google’s FAQ Help section) I really liked the flexibility with their privacy options and it is very user friendly. I also especially like their easy to use embeddable slideshow feature.

Note: I make the decision on whether to publish and share pictures publicly by the following criteria.

*Is the photo appropriate and have an educational value?

*Does the photo reveal the complete identity of a student face?

See how we used picasa to share our some of our photos from our YMCA Camping trip from our class blog here.

This blog thing is finally started to catch on and spread with some other teachers at my school so, I have decided to backtrack and log some of the big customizations I had done to set up this blog in order to leave a path to make it easier for some of the newbie bloggers to follow. (Note: I am not going to get into super detail on how to go through each step, rather I am pointing you in a direction for you to focus on)

1) Learn on how to upload and install themes and pluggins (for wordpress) Hint: do a google on these keywords “Screencast” and “How to Install Themes and Plugins” and “Wordpress”

2) Then Change your theme

3) Try to install a plugin (ok here is one link How to Install Plugins in Wordpress ) by installing my favorite gotta have plugin: Wordpress Widgets trust me it will make your life so much easier

4) Install your first widget with everyone’s favorite Clustrmap

5) Start the site counters and trackers right away, I swear by Google Analytics

6) Burn a feed for your blog at Feedburner so that readers can subcribe and keep up with your blog via RSS or email updates. I also used the chicklet rss button maker widget and got the email subscribition code and drop into into my wordpress widget sidebar.
7) Register your blog with atleast Technorati and Mybloglog and drop their tracking/pinging code into your blog

8 ) Add your network badges and build your profile. What I did was my LinkedIn with a picture

9) Share stuff. Add your Delicious bookmarks Google Reader Blogroll and Google Reader Shared Items (Hint get a google reader account)

I hope this saved you some time get started. Have a question or suggestion, please comment below.

WEBSITE:
http://www.cocomment.com/

TAGS & CATEGORIES:
rss blogging

FEATURES:
*bookmarks, tags, and tracks your comments
*alerts you (via RSS) of updates to the conversations you participated in so you don’t have to continually revisit the blogs you commented on to check for updates on the discussion.
*has a firefox extension for one click tracking
*has a wordpress pluggin (that is activated on this blog) that facilitates comment tracking

PROS:
*this service overcomes the one big obstacle I had to completely entering blogging by participating in the discussions and be able to keep track of it all

CONS:
*that this wasn’t released sooner

COST/SET UP:
*free
*web-based, just need to sign up for an account (2 mins)

EDUCATIONAL USEFULNESS:

No better way to facilitate online participation and discussion!

“READ/WRITE SOCIAL WEB2.0″-NESS

This epitomizes the essence of reading and writing on the new social web2.0

OVERALL GRADE:
A+