How To Use My Alternative High

Preface

Preface I put this together to address the issues and questions that come up all the time in class, especially for newer students.

Preface I did this so that I could spend class time helping people with their work instead of teaching people how to use the site.

Preface I spent about 75 hours on this. You can spend 1 hour really studying it so you will be able to use the site without frustration.

There is stuff in here for you even if you have been using the site for a while. I included directions for things I never have had time to explain before. Preface

Introduction

If you pay close attention, you will learn how to Introduction

Create an account Introduction

Create and post a blog Introduction

Edit and manage a blog Introduction

Add and format links Introduction

Add Upload and format files pictures Introduction

Add HTML content Introduction

And use the assignment calendar Introduction

Parts of the Header Menu Introduction

1 2 Introduction 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1. Sign in to your account 2. Create an account for page access 3. Search key words on this site 4. Facebook group 5. Twitter page 6. See all blogs on one page 7. Delicious Bookmark this page 8. Site play list 9. Class assignment calendars 10. Chat room

Part One Create your account

Create an account If you do not already have an account, you will have to create one.

Create an account This is the passcode Capital W

Create an account When you create an account, I can add you to a class, which gives you access to all the blogs assigned to that class.

Create an account If you do not have an email, you need to get one. You will not be able to create an account without one.

Create an account It s not like you can go all your life in this day and age without an email address anyway, right? Just get one.

Create an account Important When you create your password, make sure you will remember it. You will need it every day to participate in class blogs

Create an account Enter all of this information. This is to protect the safety, security and quality of the site Don t forget the security code! This protects the site from bots.

It also gives me contact information, which is very useful for communication Create an account

Important After you create your account, make sure that you are added to your classes Create an account

Part Two Sign in to your account

Sign in to your account Refresh your screen if you do not see this window when you log in Your User Name is your email address; you created your Password when you made your account.

Part Three Create, edit and manage a blog

Create a Blog

Create a blog First, make sure you are signed in.

and second Create a blog Be sure to click EDIT THIS PAGE! If you don t, you won t be able to upload pictures or links.

Create a blog Brings you back to this page Logs you out of the site This is your account home page Blogs for your class REFRESH YOUR SCREEN if you see this window before you log in

Create a blog This page lists your blogs Opens the page in viewing mode Page title Click here to edit a blog

Create a blog This is what a blog page looks like in edit mode. You must be logged in to see this page.

The next slide explains the parts of the editing page Create a blog

Create a blog Add content to the page outside of the blog! Put links here to great resources you use to help others. Be sure to click EDIT THIS PAGE! If you don t, you won t be able to upload pictures or links. Post new blog Newest blogs All blogs by month posted Edit or delete an existing blog Warning Never delete anyone else s work. Always save files on your own computer or thumb drive as a backup BEFORE posting!

Make sure you click this first or your blogs won t work right Create a blog You will not see any of this if you are not signed in Click this tab to post a new blog

Latest posts contains the most recent blog posts Find your blog here The best way to locate your blog is the manage tab, which lists all of the blog posts Create a blog Give your blog a unique title First name only Archive contains all the blog posts made in a given month Be sure to enable comments and allow them for at least this year This is where you type and add content to your blog

Create a blog Remember to save your work in your own file before posting. Click Apply Changes when you are ready to post your work.

Create a blog Apply Changes saves your work. Never refresh the screen or close the window before you Apply Changes

Create a blog Refresh your screen if you see this window after you apply changes! Do not repost it! Your blog did post if you filled out everything properly. This is a network issue and I don t know what causes it, but if you refresh your screen and check the manage tab for the page (instead of panicking and posting a hundred times), you will see that your blog did post.

Create a blog Click the manage tab to find your blog after you post it It never hurts to refresh your screen

Lists all the blogs on this page Create a blog

Part Four Building a Blog

Building a Blog Topics 1. The toolbar 2. Paste from Word 3. Create links/upload files 4. Upload pictures 5. Format pictures 6. Insert HTML code

Building a Blog The Toolbar

Building a Blog Toolbar Buttons Font type Font size Numbers and Bullets Text alignment Insert table Font style Spell check Print blog Search the page Text color Fill color Insert page bar Undo and redo buttons Left and right tabs Super script and sub script

Building a Blog Toolbar Buttons View the html code for the page; useful for inserting embedded html content, like You Tube videos Select all Insert link Paste from Word Erase formatting Insert pictures

Building a Blog Paste from Word

Building a Blog Paste from Word This method will clean formatting problems whether they are from Word or not.

Building a Blog When you copy your text from Word, the ONLY correct way to paste it into your blog is with the paste from Word button. If you paste it any other way, you will have formatting issues.

Building a Blog Paste from Word Paste from Word Click the paste from Word button to begin.

Building a Blog Paste from Word Click in this box and then press the control and v keys (ctrl v) on your keyboard to paste content from Word Make sure you select Remove Styles definitions Paste from Word window Click OK when you are finished

Building a Blog Paste from Word Select all Erase formatting Selects everything in this work area. Erases the formatting you have done in the text editor. After you have pasted from Word, this step will remove any formatting that was left over

Building a Blog Paste from Word WARNING Do not copy pictures from your Word document! Upload pictures and other images directly from your computer files

Building a Blog Paste from Word ctrl v is a handy paste shortcut you can use any time!

Building a Blog Create links and upload files

Building a Blog Create Link/Upload File Insert link Highlight, or type and then highlight, the name of the link, or highlight an image and click insert link

Building a Blog Create Link/Upload File File upload window Be sure to click EDIT THIS PAGE! If you don t, you will only see a blank window here. What can you do with a blank window? Nothing at all.

Building a Blog Create Link/Upload File This is a drop down menu. You can choose to link to a website, upload a file from your computer, as well as other options. Another drop down menu. Make sure you choose to open the link in a new window. This keeps people 3 from leaving your page. Type or paste the web address here. If you paste it, make sure you take off the http:// portion. That is automatically inserted for you and the link will not work if it is there. Finishes inserting the link and closes the window File upload window

Building a Blog Upload an Image

Building a Blog Upload images 1 Insert image Select the insert image icon on the toolbar to open a pop up window for uploading pictures.

Building a Blog Upload images Be sure to click EDIT THIS PAGE! If you don t, you will only see a blank window here. 2 Click the browse button Pop up window uploading images

Building a Blog Upload images 3 Select the location of the file on your computer (your thumb drive) 2 nd pop up window for uploading images 4 Double-click the file you want to upload

Building a Blog Upload images 5 Click on the Upload button, and wait for the image to load Be sure to click EDIT THIS PAGE! If you don t, you will only see a blank window here.

Building a Blog Upload images Resize/Tools allows you to make adjustments to the picture. Creates a thumbnail image that must be clicked to open. Useful for large pictures Alt text allows you to type a description of your picture that will appear when someone hovers over it. 6 Click on the OK button when you are ready to post your image

Building a Blog Upload images You have now put a picture in your blog.

Building a Blog Format an Image

Building a Blog Format images Right click on the picture and select Image Properties to format it

Building a Blog Click image properties to open the window below Format images Width and Height You only need to adjust one; the other will adjust automatically unless you click the lock first. Don t do that. Border You can leave at 0 for no border, or change it to have a border around your picture Hspace and Vspace Puts space around your picture so other things are pushed out of its way. Hspace adds room left and right, Vspace adds room top and bottom Align The drop down will show you numerous choices. Clicking on these choices will show you what the picture looks like with text. Left and right are the ones you will most commonly use. Click OK when you are done formatting your picture.

Building a Blog Insert HTML code

Building a Blog Insert HTML code View the html code for the page; useful for inserting embedded html content, like You Tube videos Insert HTML code

Building a Blog Insert HTML code Pressing the source button again shows your work again. Selecting the source button shows you the html formatting for the page. Use it to embed html content in your page, such as videos. Go to the end of the page, and paste it at the end, after the last character (or paste it after a </div> sign). Be careful! If you break an existing line of code, it will ruin your page. You must paste it at the very end, and not between any existing code. Randomly pasting your code in here will not work!

Building a Blog Congratulations! You can now do all the technical stuff you need to do to make really cool blogs. Remember to check back for review if you forget how to do something.

Part Five Assignments

Click the calendar to open the assignment page Assignments

This is a class calendar page Assignments Blogs on this page have information for all students to read and know Click on a class

This is a class assignment page Assignments Today s date Link to detailed directions for the assignment Class time spent on an assignment

This is an agenda page Assignments Directions for assignment Blogs on this page are directions to the assignments for this class Resources for this assignment

Class Assignments Title of assignment Link to handout for assignment Follow the links in the directions, because they are often handouts that you need to complete and turn in. The directions also contain a link to where you need to post your work. Resources for this assignment Link to blog for this assignment

It is important that you read the directions for the assignment Assignments

Follow the links in the directions, because they have handouts that you need to complete and turn in. Assignments

The directions also contain a link to where you need to post your work. Assignments

Assignments Directions for assignment Blogs on this page are directions to the assignments for this class Resources for this assignment

Assignments You find all of these assignment agendas at the top of the menu below each class.

Congratulations! You have saved yourself a lot of time and frustration by reading this presentation. You are now ready to begin using this site. Nice job! Conclusion

Make sure you check back whenever you forget how to do something. That s why I made this. Conclusion

It s like I m always here to explain it to you. Conclusion

Which is why, after all of this, if you ask me a question that can be answered here, this is where I am going to send you! Conclusion

Thank you for your attention. Conclusion

THE END