Add some photos

Don't forget that some of you still need to fulfill the photography assignment to finish out the year.

The following events are available:

• Concert - May 7
• Baseball - several dates still open
• Softball - several dates still open
• Track
• Track and Field Day
• Other?

Now post some photos in your blog. You can use your own or learn to link to another photo on the web. There are several options for posting and formatting your text so you can make your blog look the way you want.

The Invisibles

Since you just finished up your own short film, it might be fun for you to try these out little quizzes out at FilmWise.

Be warned...they're tough.

Let me know if you get any.

A note to Adam...keep in touch with us while you are in NY through your blog.

Find a Blog

You can search for blogs that have a similar interest to you by going to Blogger's home page and conduct a search. Find one that you really like. I found this one. Leave a comment and make a link in your post. Remember to be appropriate. Besides you never know what someone out there may have to offer you.

Finding a Podcast - Adding a Link

Your next mission, should you choose to accept it, is to link the students in our class who have created blogs so far to your blog. Once you have, be sure to leave a comment in their blog. Again, keep it appropriate. Bloggers can regulate the comments in the settings tab, so if you don't want the entire world to be able to post you can control who can comment including spams. (go ahead...check it out...you know you want to!)

After completing that mission, visit this site and view the variety of podcasts that are available. This will give you an idea of what podcast can be like and may give you ideas for yours. Be sure to look at podcasts that are presented without video. What are the elements that need to be considered for creating a successful podcast? Also research podcasts and post your findings. Address the good, the bad and the ugly. What do you like? What don't you like? While your at it, learn to format your text with colors, different fonts, and embed links such as the one in this paragraph.

Welcome Media Class - 2007

If you've made it here, it's because you are finished with your iMovie and now it's time to continue with another form of communication; one of the objectives of the curriculum of this particular class. To continue that, you will create a blog (this is one) and a podcast(s).

The latest in "getting your voice out there" is through podcasting, which is basically a pre-recorded radio show. Some podcasts include video and can especially useful for tutorials and things like sight seeing tours. However, we won't be using video, only sound, but your podcasts will be uploaded to the web server and other people can access the site and listen to what you have to say.

In order to create a podcast, you will need access to some basic equipment and software. We will be using GarageBand, Skype, Blogger, iTunes or AudioHijack, and for simplicity a gmail account (Google) for software, and the eMacs, headsets and pencil and paper for hardware.

So the first thing you will do is acquire a Google account so you can create a blog. The blog is where you will post your research on your topic , your assignments and hopefully your podcast. The beauty of the Google account is it allows you to customize your Google page. It includes features of a calendar where you can add agenda items, you can customize the look and add a ton of little oddball items such as games, horoscopes and to do lists, brainteasers, gmail, etc.

Once you get an account, you will create your own blog. Blogger.com is a very common blog service through google that is extremely user friendly. Again, you can choose all kinds of templates to create the look you want and for those of you who are html saavy, you can tweak the looks even further. Once you set your blog up, you will start responding to the assignments given here. You will be required to only do the assignments from here on up. Blogs post in reverse order so the older posts appear at the bottom of the page.

After you create the blog, you need to send me your blog URL, so that I can see your progress. I will be grading your assignments via your blog.

Next, open Skype and create an account using your gmail address. Skype allows you to talk to other Skype users from all over the world via the computer and a headset. We will also be able to record conversations between class members to create an interview type podcast or radio show with a guest. Choose your name wisely. The whole world can see it.

The first assignment will be to choose what you will talk about related to the subjects listed below. You need to blog your choice. You are not locked in once you post, but given the time constraints, you will want to start immediately. Once you choose, do some research or start forming some ideas that you can discuss on your own or have a two way conversation or interview with. Remember, you will have a wide audience that you will be speaking to, so keep in mind that you will need to be articulate and prepared to speak at length about your topic.

Shifts in Society
Gender Issues:
Is Sexism Real? Does it Matter?
Has the Glass Ceiling been Raised even more?
A Return to Stepford: Do women let themselves be treated as a lesser being?
Relationships:
Friends: isolation in an overpopulated world.
Talking about Issues: who can teenagers really talk to? Is anyone listening?
Dating: what happened to good old chivalry?
Manners:
Why doesn't anyone respect anyone else?
Common courtesies: are they dead?
Who is Ms. Manners anyway?

Anyone of the above issues can be discussed in terms of the history of the issue as well. Good luck, look for more posts very soon.

Moderating Comments and Backlinks

Some of you may want to moderate unwanted comments, which allows you to publish which comments you want the public to see or you can reject a comment. Pros and cons depending on what you want the world to see. In some professions, this would be an excellent option to utilize. In other blogs, a comment that even though might be negative may spark and idea or reaction however that you might miss out on entirely if it was edited for posting.

Your choice. Which, is always a good thing. Let freedom live on (even if it is only in a blog).

I don't know how long the comment moderation options has been there, but it was definitely not an option when this blog was created. I found out about in Candi's blog. Also word verification is a nice feature as it keeps unwanted Spam comments. Does someone get paid to spam people?

For one last assignment. Post a comment in everyone's blog. If they have word verification enabled in the comment section, click on the handicap symbol and figure out what that means. Extra credit points for those who come and tell me personally.

Headers, Links, etc.

You can change your colors, headers and comments to read differently than Blogger's settings. For example, I changed my Links to read "The Staff" and changed the comments to read Memorable Memos. For those of you who have completed the assignments, go into your template and find the spot to change the html code.

Search

Underneath my links is a search box, that will search within a site or in this case a blog. This is not required for your blog as Blogger has it's own search window located at the top left of the page, but if you are interested you can go to the link posted above atomz.com and search in their search window for "Trial Account." It is a short and relatively painless process, but still kind of cool. The search results also show other links for the term entered.

Winding Down and final assignment.

As the year comes to a close and you move on, this blog will cease to exist as you know it. It is here that I would like to tell you how much you have impressed me with your creativity, motivation, dedication, and ability to amaze and "WOW" me.

The yearbook is a stunning production and has set the standard for years to come. Not only because of the color, but the original cover, the continuity, and an excellent theme.

The Cans Film Festival will be fabulous and again - you have set a new standard. The films are fabulous and I know the student body and faculty will be impressed.

Finally, I am excited to see the excitement generated with the blogs. I think J-Duh posted about how much more her blog will become in the future; not just an assignment for the media class, but a way to keep in contact with the rest of you. What a great idea! It never entered my head that this would be such an exponetial project. I have already found blogs created from students in our school, but not in our class. Blogs with fabulous ideas and heart-felt opinions. You are the future and it is yours to embrace. I look forward to reading your blogs in the months to come (providing that you keep it up).

Remember to blog with integrity and with common sense.

As your teacher, I have never been prouder of class. To each of you, I offer my congratulations and sincerely hope the future brings you many joys and a ton of riches.

Now for your final assignment. You need to respond to this post how you would change the class AND what was the best and what was the worst. Thanks for making it a great year!

Common Interests

Click on one of the contributors on the left. Notice it gives a profile of the person and below lists their interests. All of the contributors interests are hot links that blogger.com connects to people who have similar interests. Click on your own profile and see who is out there with similar interests as yours. If you like, post in their blog and link that in a new post titled "Common Interests."

Find a Blog

For this assignment I want you to find a "Blog of Note" and make a link. Additionally in a post talk about why you are adding this link. In other words what makes this blog worthy of noting. In your post make some of the words to be hot links like this: drawing pencils.