Begin at the Beginning and [Blog] On:Practical Advice for the New Blogger

@Melissa_VenableWordCamp Miami

2012#wcmia

http://www.onlinecollege.org/inside-online-learning/

Set your GoalsFind your VoiceOrganize your WritingJoin the Community

Set Your Goals:

Find a creative outletJournal your thoughtsLearn something newAddress a burning issueShare your knowledgeBuild authorityJoin a communityStart a business

Think about purpose.

Year / Month / Week / Day

Put your goals in writing!

Draft your About Page

Find Your Voice:

“The personality, point of view, and style you use when you write.”

-@JessJurick WordCamp Miami 2010

Find Your Voice:

Who is your audience?

Where is your expertise?

What are you interested in?

What do you have to say?

Be authentic.

“Brainstorm 10-20 personality attributes – narrow to 3-5.” - Problogger

“Love your reader.” – Don Miller

Get Organized:Frequency – How

often can you write?

Topic – What will you write about?

TopicCategoriesPost ideas

Be realistic.

Use Categories:Identify 3-5

Try an Editorial Calendar.

Create idea “pitches.”

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Category Topic DescriptionCurrent Trends

Is it time to drop the "e"?

Is "eLearning" passé? Maybe it’s all just "learning." Especially as more campus-based programs and courses integrate online components in addition to face-to-face meetings. And it's not just higher ed, as K-12 and corporate training environments use all available resources to both improve learning and streamline the administration side. I'll provide some examples and highlight a few of the leaders also calling for us to drop the "e."

Resources for Online Students

It's not just Google, it's Google Scholar

Tips and techniques online students can use to leverage this Google tool to find the resources they need for course assignments. I'll compare a Google Scholar search to a 'regular' Google search, and include a list of the types of materials they should be looking for, such as dissertations and theses, academic journal articles. Not all of these items will be available in full-text through Google, but the full-citations are, and you can use those to find full-text through your school's library, which is all part of the research process.

Resources for Online Instructors

Online Teaching is Community Building

A look at some of the practical strategies and techniques online instructors can use to foster community in their courses. How it is similar to/different from other types of online community building currently talking place with social media. Also providing examples of communities of online instructors that readers may be interested in joining.

Write Posts: Use Writing prompts.

Keep your antenna up! (ideas are everywhere…)

Write *all* of your ideas down.

OpinionsReviewsInstructional/How-toResource CollectionsSeriesListsProblem-SolutionInterviews…

CC BY: Elaine Vigneault

CC BY: danpeerfix

CC BY: jmoneyyyyyy

CC BY: Annie Mole

CC BY: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital

Find Your Crowd:

New bloggersEstablished bloggersAll-star bloggers

Look for similar:• Topics• Audiences

Search blog directories.

Set up a new reader (e.g., Feedly)

Read as much as you write.

Leave thoughtful comments.

@elearningguy | elearningguy.wordpress.com• Write in your own voice• Write your thoughts(even if they’re contrary)• Write your feelings• Write often• Share/curate

@billymeinke | billymeinke.wordpress.com

• Read a couple of blogs by people with similar interests to yours before making your first post.

• Paying attention [to what others are doing] can help improve your style and the readability of your first blog!

• link, link, link• write with your audience in mind, even

if it’s just one person• if your audience is everybody, you’re

talking to nobody• don’t be that guy on the corner

@stevebragaw

@hjarche• realize the benefits – think & reflect,

collaborate, expand your view, ask & engage

CC BY: teamstickergiant

You’re at the dance…

…all that’s left to do is dance.

• Set goals for blog purpose, frequency, topic(s)• Write your About Page• Write an introductory post• Create 3-5 writing topic categories• Develop 3-5 post ideas for each category• Schedule 10 new posts• Start writing…• Have fun with it.

Join a blogging groupOrganize your blog reading approachCreate a place to collect blogging tips and resources

Dance! (Write!)

CareerBlogBasics.wordpress.com

CC-BY: futureshape