Introduction

All GIS students at UWF will need to create and maintain a student blog at some point during their coursework. We suggest students create just one and maintain it for the duration of their GIS courses. 


Your blog should be created with a Gmail account using http://www.blogger.com We suggest that students use an email address that they can access after they are no longer a student at UWF (i.e. a personal Gmail account as opposed to an assigned UWF student email). Blogger offers a fairly simple and straightforward way to create a blog where changes are easy to make.  We encourage students to customize and personalize their blog while making sure to include the following items:

  1. Set the time stamp correctly. This ensures that maps will be timestamped correctly and students will get full credit for the post. 
  2. Enable the comments section so that other students may comment on your maps.
  3. Students do NOT have to make their blog public (i.e. searchable by Google) but they DO have to provide a link so that teachers can access their blog and add it to the program blog list for other students to view.


Step-by-step guide

Step 1: Sign into a Google account 

It must be a Google account, but please be aware that once you are no longer a UWF student, your UWF Google account and blog site will be inaccessible (wiped) after 2 semesters of non-enrollment.  We encourage students to use a personal Google account to create a blog that they can maintain access to well after their UWF journey is over. 

Step 2: Navigate to Blogger

In a web browser (preferably Google Chrome), navigate to http://www.blogger.com.

Blogger Homepage

Step 3: Select Create Blog

On the top left of the Blogger homepage, select Create Blog. If you already have an existing blog page, this may be under a drop down menu at the same location.

Create Blog button

Step 4: Title your blog

You will be prompted to title your blog site. Make sure to choose something appropriate for your purpose. If you are planning to show your UWF GIS work to potential employers, it may be beneficial to think of a professional yet exciting title here. Some students have used titles like "Deidra's GIS Journey" or "David's Geographical Journal" in the past.

Entering a blog title

Step 5: Choose a URL for your blog

This is the URL that people (including your instructors) will use to visit your blog. The input will let you know if the URL you've chosen is available or not.

Entering a blog URL

The full url (including.blogspot.com) is what you submit to the Blog Sheet.


Step 6: Edit your theme

If the side menu on the left is not already showing, the 3 horizontal lines in the top left will toggle the menu. The Theme option will let you choose a theme appropriate your blog. You can change this anytime, but remember to choose one that focuses on the purpose of your blog. If you'd like to show this to potential employers, select something related to geography or nature. Once you've finished with this, open the side menu again and click on View blog to view your blog.

Selecting a blog theme


Congratulations! You made your blog and you are ready to start blogging!


Step 7: Optional profile information

NOTE: We encourage students to include a profile picture on their User Profile. The User Profile Settings can be found at the bottom of the Setting menu.

Uploading profile photos for blog


Completing the About Me section, found in the Layout menu, with information is also advisable as long as it is general and professional.

Managing About Me section for blog


  

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2 Comments

  1. Unknown User (dkrolikowski)

    Mar 13, 2017

    Don't forget about adding the label gadget.

    Edit: I see the label gadget is on the other page. Personally, I think it should go here in the setup of the blog rather than making a post on the blog.

    1. Salina Randall

      Mar 13, 2017

      That makes sense... BUT the videos are already done. Once they are published I plan on linking the other page at the bottom of this one. I think that may solve the issue.