Assignment 8

Assigned: Oct. 27, 2011
Due: Oct. 27, 2011
Points: 10 points


Hi Everyone,

Today there are two objectives to complete during this lesson:

1. The first is the complete and/or edit your "Banner" from last week. Some of the banners are very large and impractical for the size of your page. If you feel that your banner is too large, you should edit your banner so that it is an appropriate size (similar to the banner that Mr Tom has across his blog). If you have not completed this task, could you do so during this lesson.
2. The second task is to write another post for your blog.

Enjoy!

Mr Tom

Assignment 7 - Banner

Assigned: Oct. 20, 2011
Due: Oct. 21, 2011
Points: 10 points

Hi Everyone,

Today we are going to look at creating a banner to post across the top of your blog. You are free to find your own picture, or other design, that you like and feel appropriate given the topic of your blog.

1. You will need to access Google Images in order find a picture for your banner. 
• Before selecting the picture you like, you have to make sure it is a LARGE SIZE. 
• Hence, on the left hand column you will select the "large picture" option.
• Once your picture appears you will click on the "full size image" on the right hand column. 
• Here is the picture that I chose below.  Note that it is a large resolution (1280 x 1024+ pixels)





2. Once you have selected your picture, right click "save image as" and save (as a JPEG file) in one of your personal folders. 
3. Open Paint.NET > File > Open > choose your image for your banner.
4. In Paint.NET choose the "rectangle select tool".
5. Make a narrow (long) rectangle of the area you like > go to "Image" in the top menu> choose "Crop to Selection".
6. You can use the shortcut "CTRL -" to zoom out.
7. Create a new layer.
8. Choose the text tool and your text's color > type your blog's name > make your font size large.
9. If your background is too bright: select the background layer > go to "adjustments" > choose "brightness and contrast" > slide the brightness to the left to make your text easier to see.
10. Flatten your image by clicking "merge layer down" in the layer panel.
11. Go to "Image" > "Resize" > make sure "maintain aspect ratio" is checked and put your width of your blog in.  See the picture below that has the location in the "layout" section of your blog on where to find your blog's width.





12. Resize your image to your blog's width (my blog's width is 1158px).
13. Go to file > save > save your image as a JPEG.
14. Next go the "dashboard" page of your blog > click "Layout".
15. On the page that appears, go to the "Header" section and click on "edit". 
16. Choose the option that says "instead of title and description".
17. Select the option that allows you to choose a image from your computer and save.  
18. Refresh your blog and check your work.  You're done!

Students who are finished early, write your next blog post of 100+ words and choose a picture from Google Images that discusses your next topic.  Use Paint.NET to manipulate your image and be an artist, have fun with it and make something creative!  Enjoy!

Assignment 6 - Blogger 3

Assigned: Oct. 14, 2011
Due: Oct. 15, 2011
Points:  10 points


Chao Cac Ban!

Let's get serious with our blogs now that you've had some practice with your blogs.  Here are some important things to remember:

• This is not a personal site
• Your blog is about one theme ONLY
• Each week we will write a new post, all year, about a new topic connected to your theme.  For example:
• Blog Name: Tin's Kitchen
• Theme: Cooking and recipes
• Topics for posts: deserts, Vietnamese food, sauces, fish, entrees, etc.

Let's start today's assignment.  Here are your goals:

• Write 100+ words
• Inserting images into posts
• Formatting font appearance
• Formatting image appearance 

Here are the steps for today's assignment:

1. Go to blogger.com
2. Create a new post
3. Name the title of your post something related to your topic (e.g. if your blog is about video games, you could write "Final Fantasy 9 Review")
4. Go to images.google.com and find a picture related to your post's topic
5. Insert the picture, but be sure to click "View Full Size Image".
6. Copy that image's URL (address)
7. In your Post Editor, click the insert image icon and choose the option "From a URL"; now paste the image's URL from the website.  If you do this, your image will upload very quickly to your blog.
8. Now click "Add Selected"
9. Once your image is in your blog, click the image and choose the hyperlink "Large" and "Center".
10. Now write a text caption underneath the photo and use bold and italic font.  Make the text another colour that is easy to read with your blog's theme (hint: you can click preview if you need).
11. You must write 100+ words in your post about your theme.  
12. When you are done, email me your post's URL by clicking the post's title.
13. In your email, write a professional email that says a greeting, your hyperlink, sincerely, your name, and "______________'s Assignment 6" as the subject.

Assignment 5 - 1st post on Blog

Assigned: Oct 6, 2011
Due: Oct 7, 2011
Points: 10

Hi Everyone,

Now that you've set up your Blogger account, it's time to write your first post on your blog.  If you're still confused about what a blog looks like, try searching in Google Blog Search for something you like.  For example: movies.  Here is a blog made by MTV about movies. 

Remember: you are writing about a specific theme, NOT ABOUT YOUR LIFE!  NB. Remember that this blog is meant to be something that anyone around the world can follow and comment about. Hence you should be writing about something you have knowledge about whilst being something that would be of interest to others.

For example, if you are a big fan of new movies, you could become a film critic and write about all the new movies you've seen. If you're a football fan you could write weekly comments about how your team performed on the weekend and comment on your team's playing style, the coach and his/her selections, and whether your team will have a successful season or not.

1. You will need to sign-in to your Google account on the top right hand corner of the screen
2. Go to blogger.com and on your dashboard and click the new post icon: orange and white pencil
3. Write 100 words+ about your theme. You must write something new each week, so keep it about something you know about.
4. Your post must include 1+ picture(s).
5. You must email your Teacher with a link to your blog, with the subject title: "Assignment 5". (thomas.petitt@saigonsouth.sis.edu.vn)