Drop.io - Student Assignment Drop Box

Here is a cool widget to add to a class blog: Drop.io private file sharing. The html code can be embedded into a post or a sidebar to allow students to save assignments into a password-protected "drop" instead of network locations on the school server. When you create a drop, just click on the ADD button on the top, then MORE on the sidebar, and finally VIEW EMBED CODE. I added mine to the sidebar on my class blog. I don't expect to use it a great deal, but I do plan to use it sometimes because I often have trouble with documents saved to network locations.

drop.io: simple private sharing

Week 2 Reflection

What did you learn? I learned about using custom templates in blogger, how to edit the layout in HTML, and a little more about widgets and the HTML code used for widgets.

How will you use what you have learned? I will use it to keep the blogs looking sharp, and I'll try to make sure the widgets and sidebar is utilized in the best way... on both my class and professional blogs.

How did you feel about this information? I think I should invest lots more time on emedded content and HTML in general.

What makes a template work for you? What do you look for in a template for your website!
Crisp, clean, simple, user-friendly, big-and-easy-to-read fonts.

What widgets did you add this week? Text - About Me, HTML - Label Cloud, Post Archives, Twitter updates, RSS Feed - Delicious updates, 3rd Party - Feedjit.

What purpose do you see for widgets on your website? There are a variety of reasons to use widgets. Professional blog: RSS feed, site statistics, blog navigation, link to social network, link to social bookmarks. Class Blog: Translate page, Dropio for assignments, Google Docs/Scribd for displaying material, "How-to" videos or screencasts, RSS feed, site statistics, blog navigation

What questions do you still have about blog templates and widgets? none.

What would you like to see covered next week? I'd like to learn how to use Yahoo Pipes for RSS and more. Maybe HTML basics.

Embedded Content from the BBC

The BBC website always has a variety of games and activities for students of various ages, but this particular set of games has a great addition: the embed code to copy and paste for your class website or blog. I think I might use these early on as a way to get students and parents comfortable with the idea of visiting and using the class blog.

View the activities here.