Week 1 - Level 1 BLOGS

Getting started by creating your blog:

For the CSS Tech Challenge we will be posting all the weekly challenges to this blog.  We would like you to create your own blog where you can blog about your experiences over the next 4 weeks.  After each posted challenge we will give you an exercise where we will ask you to blog about what you’ve learned, questions, ideas, thoughts, etc.  Your blog will serve as place to keep track of your progress. 

For this first exercise you are going to create your own blog. We recommend using Blogger, a free online blog hosting service that is easy to use. You can create a blog in just three easy steps:

1. Create an account  

2. Name your blog (you can name it anything you want!)

3. Select your template

We recommend viewing this brief video on How to Create a Blog with Blogger. Then, go the Blogger and click on “Get Started.” From there you will be able to follow the three easy steps to make your blog. Once you have created your blog, it is time to add your first post!  Remember to make a note of your username, password and your blog's address.  Your blog's address will be YOURBLOGSNAME.blogspot.com

Level 1 Exercise:

In your first post you can blog about anything you want!  However,  if you need help getting started here are some questions to get you thinking:

• Tell us what you think about setting up a blog. Was it easier or harder than you thought it would be?
• How can you see yourself using a blog in ways that will be useful for you and other children’s librarians or library assistants?
• Is this your first blog or have you/do you currently blog? 
• What are some of your favorite blogs? 
• Have you ever dreamt of becoming a blogger, but just don't have the time or didn't know how? If so, what type of blog would you create. 
• Jazz your blog up! Try playing around with your blog's template and adding gadgets, like a blog list of your favorite blogs, adding info to your "About Me", add lists of your favorite books or movies, add a newsreel, and so much more!  To do this go to "Design" and click on "add gadget".

Need some more inspiration?  Here are a few fun blogs to check out:

• Eva's Book Addiction
• Mundie Kids
• Awful Library Books
• YA Books Central Blog
• The Planet Esme Plan

Next you will need to register your blog with us (so we can follow along with your progress). To do so, all you have to do is send an email to us at csstechchallenge@gmail.com and tell us your name, name of the blog,  and the address of your blog. And for our records only could you please include the library you work for and your position.

NOTE: We are adding a blogroll (a link list in the sidebar) of all the blogs created for this challenge.  Your blog and other blogs taking part in this challenge will appear here. We encourage you to check out your co-challengers over the next four weeks and see what they have to say about the challenges. Try commenting on their posts, it is a great networking opportunity! 

REMEMBER: f you need help setting up your blog, need us to better explain any of our instructions or you have any questions please send an email to csstechchallenge@gmail.com  We are here to help you!