Reflection for Course

In the beginning of this class I barely knew how to make a blog, had limited knowledge on many of the Google tools. Now I feel more comfortable with the information I learned from this class. I was able to create my own website, insert links, videos and images. I was not sure on how to do this before this class. I now know how to create Google docs, presentations and also how to link information on those to a website. 

There is so much more I would like to explore further after I have completed my final project. I would like to learn how to make my website "prettier" and how to put things on the sides. I also need to learn more on gadgets and sizing them correctly on my site.

I would say I am happy with the knowledge the I learned through this class and the further learning it has provided for me. I also feel I am better able to help my students with technology projects.

Uploading a Video

I created a You Tube account and uploaded a video to it as a requirement for this class. I wasn't sure the best way to upload the video onto my computer because I used my ipod to make the video. I decided to email to myself and download it onto my computer from there. I am sure there may be an easier way to do, but I didn't know how to at the time. I am going to upload the video here. The video is my son pretending to use Google search to find how to make a video.

Uploading the video was very easy. I click on the icon that looks like a director cut board. From there I chose to upload My You Tube Videos. I Clicked on the video and hit select. Very simple.

Using the iPod to take a picture

I took a picture using the blogger app from the iPod. This is the class working

Once I took a picture I had the option to retake the picture or use it. Once I chose to use it, it was added onto my blog. I then wrote my words and published. After publishing I realized the picture was very big so I went to edit the post and click the picture and chose medium. Then I clicked update.

Adding a link to the blog

Today I am going to try to add a link to my blog.  I am going to put in a link on how to add a link to a blog.

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-use-blogger-to-add-a-link-to-your-blog.html.

What I did was click on to make a new tab so I could have access to my blog and find a link. I went to google search and typed in" how to add a link to a blog". A bunch of choices came up. I decided to click on the how to add a link to blogs for dummies. I then went to the top where the web address was located and copied it. I then came back to my blog and clicked on the link  choice at the top of the blog where you can change color, font etc. Once there I pasted the link in the website box.

Now let me see if it works. First I think I need to publish the blog because when I tried to click on it as I am writing it is not letting me. I may need to edit or tweak afterward.

It worked. You cannot check to see if the link works as you are writing the post but when you go to view your blog you are able to click on the link and it brings you tot he web page. I may not have chosen one with good instructions as it confused me but it may be helpful to others.

Uploading an image

I am going to practice putting a picture into my blog. I am hoping it is as easy as it to put pictures into a Microsoft word document.

Success. At first I wasn't sure how to upload an image but I then remembered from our first class how we put in an image onto the presentation. I chose to find an image from the internet. I went to google search and typed in blogs. To get images rather than websites I chose the images tab on the top of the page. When I found the picture I liked I clicked on the picture and chose to copy the image url. I went back to my post and chose the tab that looks like a picture. I then chose from a URL. There is then a box to paste the URL in. Immediately the image comes up. I then chose to use the image. Once I figured this out it was very easy.

Google for ipod

App store icon on ipod

After getting home I decided to play around with the iPod . After setting it up I decided to look at the apps store. Since I have an iPhone and my children have an iPod I am familiar with getting apps. In apps store I searched google. I downloaded a few free apps for google. One is blogger. I am currently using to type this. For those not familiar with an iPhone or iPod to get any apps on them you must go to the app store. You can do several things in there. I find it easiest if I go to the bottom where it says search. I then search for what I am looking for. Once I searched google there are many apps to install, I found blogger. Click on it then click install. You need an apple password to access this. Once you you click install and password it is installed. Now you can have blogger on the go( well if you have wifi available)

This is what the app will look like on your ipod when it is downlaoded.

I also downloaded gmail as well. This is what the app looks like.

First

I started a blog as a requirement for my Google Tools for School class. I will use this blog to explain the new tools I am learning. Hopefully this will help others learn to do the things I am.