Blogging Essentials

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Summary

This tutorial will introduce you to the world of blogging (known as the "blogosphere"). It provides tips on finding tech-related blogs, as well as resources for contributing to the MyGLife Israel blog and even creating a blog of your own.

Experience Needed
  • None
Software
  • No special software required, just a web browser to view online tutorials
Files
  • N/A
Learning Topics
  1. Blogging Essentials: What is a Blog
  2. Blogging Essentials: How to Identify a Blog
  3. Blogging Essentials: Some Important Players in the "Blogosphere"
  4. Blogging Essentials: Blogging MyGLife: Activities
  5. Blogging Essentials: Blogging MyGLife: Contribute
Resource Sites

1. What is a Blog?

Check out these great articles, and you'll be able to explain to anyone why 'Blogs (short for weblogs) are changing the way the world uses the internet.

  • Blogger Introduction Tour — Take a quick tour of the world of weblogs. (You don't have to sign up for one just yet...)
  • About Technorati — Learn about Technorati, the recognized authority in searching, sorting, and measuring "importance" in the world of weblogs.
  • History of SixApart — History of one of the first blogging tools.
2. How to Identify a Blog

What does a blog look like? What makes a website a blog? Let's start with a little "blog-hunting." Explore some of these popular blogs and pay attention to the features that they all have in common.

3. Some Important Players in the "Blogosphere"
  • Bloggers — Blogs have made it easier for one person to publish their own thoughts and expertise to a global audience.
  • Internet Audience — You'd be surprised how many people in the world have the same interests! When internet 'surfers' find blogs that interest them, learning happens, usually followed by interaction. Some internet users post links to blogs of interest on their own websites, further increasing the reach and impact of the original blogs.
  • Trackers — The "blogosphere' is such a thriving ecosystem that certain groups are constantly working on better ways to organize and measure it. There are many 'blogtools' that will help you to find what you want, as well as to see how popular certain topics are and how many people are linking to them.
4. Blogging MyGLife: Activities

Use these websites to investigate ongoing conversations in the 'blogosphere" regarding IT and Programming topics from MyGLife.org. Remember, blogs are usually maintained by people who are very passionate about their area of expertise, so you can usually expect to find very helpful information and advice.

  • Google Blog Search — Great tool for finding Blogs, even those not created with Google's Blogger tool.
  • Technorati — Foremost Blog Tracker. Use to find blogs, and also measure their reach and influence.
  • Blogpulse — Great search engine for the blogosphere; use in conjunction with Google Blog Search to leave less stones unturned.
Suggested Search Terms (by Activity)
  • Bullseye — Draw a simple character in Flash, character animation in Flash, adding a sound effect in Flash, simple actionscript math
  • Jigsaw Puzzle — Using Flash drawing tools, actionscript for images, using actionscript to make an image randomly appear, Flash timer count up down, Flash timer
  • Scuba Diver — Keystroke capture in Flash, actionscript key capture, handling events in actionscript, collision detection in Flash, collision detection in actionscript.
  • Slider Puzzle — Using classes in Flash, creating a timer with actionscript.
  • Countries — Creating buttons in Flash, creating hyperlinks in Flash, masking layers in Flash, simulating 3D in Macromedia Flash
  • Gravity — Use Motion Guides for tweening in Flash, tweening animation in Flash, physics with actionscript
  • Negative Feedback/Positive Feedback — Creating a slider control in Flash, manipulating sounds with actionscript
5. Blogging MyGLife: Contribute

Join the Blogosphere

The ultimate "contribution" that you can make is to become an active member of the blogosphere. See what people around the tech world are talking about and don't be afraid to share your MyGLife knowledge with them! Here are some great blogs that will connect you to the forefront of technology.

  • Slashdot — "News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters."
  • Engadget — Daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
  • A List Apart — For people who make websites
Blog on MyGLife Israel

If you haven't been to the official MyGLife Israel blog in a while, be sure to check it out at http://myglifeisrael.blogspot.com/.

Create your own Blog

Create your own Blog and share your voice with the world. Use these great tools to create a quick place on the web where you can post your thoughts for the world to read. Also, check trends in the blogging world to see how many people are talking about your favorite things. Don't forget to link to your page from the MyGLife Israel Blog!