1. Continue our discussion about web jobs (#5 in yesterday’s post).

2. How about sending an email to your “future self” on the last day of class? What would you say? What do you want to learn this year?

3. Ever wonder what was first posted on some of your favorite websites? Check out thiswasfirst.com. Also, check out what’s going on now on social media. Finally, what is it like to work for Twitter?

4. Try today:

– How fast can you scroll?

– Is this annoying or cool or maybe both?

– Go to Google.com and type “do a barrel roll” into the search box.

– Is it possible for you to do nothing for two minutes?

5. What is a blog?

How is a blog different from a “traditional” website?

Do you follow or read any blogs regularly?

Blogs are types of websites. They are defined by specific subjects or topics and by interactive features such as people registering to post comments and to connect with others, including the blog author.

You will notice now that main “traditional” websites have adopted “bloggy” features such as blog posts, comment forums, and links to social media for people to share information.

When the internet became more and more mainstream, blogs became a way for people to self-publish and to communicate with a large audience. Prior to that it was really only possible to do that through TV, radio, newspapers, and ads. Blogs empower their authors by enabling them to reach and connect with people.

By taking the media into their own hands, blog authors and their followers helped give rise to the social media world we now live in. Going online isn’t a passive experience where information is spoon-fed to an audience. It’s an interactive experience where people choose the information/media they want to consume, produce, and share.

Today you will blog on our class website.

This is your first project of the year! Remember, projects count toward 50% of your grade in this class.

I have created a page for everyone. You will get a username and password to log in.

Your page is located under Class Pages at the top of our website. Point your mouse on Class Pages, then scroll down to MHS and click on it. You will see a list of names- click on yours.

Today you will add information to your page about yourself and a photo. You can include: where you’re from, languages you speak, food you like, interests, hobbies, activities, sports, talents, life philosophy, family, pets, etc.!

Try wigflip.com to make some cool graphics for your page.

Also try pixlr.com to add cool effects to your images. Try Playful and Efficient. Advanced is actually very similar to Photoshop and isn’t very intuitive, so be ware!

You are using WordPress, a free content management system that is used by about one in every seven websites in the world! You can enter text and images and WordPress adds the code for you. If you know HTML and CSS, you are able to do the code yourself.

What else do you notice about WordPress?

To Log in to Your Page:

From the class website:

1. In another tab or window open up https://www.mhswebdesign.com/wp-admin.

2. Log into the site with your username and password.

3. Go back to the class website and click on Class Pages in the top menu.

4. Click on your name. You should now be on your page. Click on Edit, which should be visible on your page since you’re logged in.

You MUST include the following on your page:

1. Information about yourself: where you’re from, languages you speak, food you like, interests, hobbies, activities, talents, life philosophy, family, pets, etc.!

2. Picture of yourself: if you don’t have one online or can’t access one you have online then you can take one with my camera OR bring in one/email one to yourself for the next class.

3. Links to your sites– blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube channel, Tumblr, LinkedIn, etc.

4. Optional– create a QR code and post it on your page; embed a video of yourself (if you have video of yourself online AND it’s appropriate)

5. Finally, you must comment on at least two other people’s pages. Be specific about something that he/she wrote. Did you find what he/she wrote interesting? Do you have a question? Be thoughtful! Don’t just write “hello” or “you’re awesome!” or “insert something mean/terrible here”. Read the person’s blog and say something positive and thoughtful!

These 4th graders know how to write a good comment.