Technology How To

Using Blogs@ZSR
Requesting an Academic Blog@ZSR

Browse to http://blog.zsr.wfu.edu/ and click the “Get a Blog” link.

Accessing Blogs@ZSR

Browse to http://blog.zsr.wfu.edu/ to access the ZSR blog server.

1. If you need a blog created use the Get a Blog link.
2. If you are looking for an existing wiki, click the Current Blogs link.
3. If you are looking for an existing blog and cannot find it in the list, contact your instructor for the private link to that blog.

Once at your destination blog, Bookmark the page in Firefox or make it a Favorite in Internet Explorer for easy access in the future.

Editing Blog@ZSR

1. Click Log in / create account and log in with your WFU login and password.
2. In the Navigation pane on the right click the New Post link.
3. Write a new post and submit

Tip: Compose and save new blog posts in MS Word, then copy and paste in the blog post.

Links to each user will appear on the right in the navigation pane under the heading Authors AFTER the user makes initial post.

Commenting on Blog Posts

Click on the “Comment” link below the post to see comments.

Scroll to the bottom of the comments to post your own comment in the comments dialog box.

Co-Authoring a Blog Post

If more than one person has access to a blog, you can co-author entries.

1. Log into the WordPress blog of your choice.
2. Choose Manage.
3. Under Other’s Drafts, choose the post you’re interested in editing.

Multiple people cannot simultaneously edit a blog entry. Try Google Docs if that function is essential.

The purpose of this document is to explain the formatting for the insertion of computer training materials into the ZSR blog. The format is as follows:

Text Requirements

• Title the blog post, but do not re-type the title in the actual blog
• Make sure to place each blog post into a specific category and create new categories when needed.
• Font should be same size throughout the blog post, but different formatting is required for certain parts of the text. The formatting pattern is:
  • Initial Headings are bolded
  • Secondary Headings are italicized
  • Informational text is normal
  • Use bullet points or numbers when showing steps or progressions
  • Important text (i.e. titles of menus, locations where the user is clicking) should be bolded for clarification
• When text does not have bullet points, use single spacing between headings and text by holding down Shift+spacebar to keep the text tight
• Use double spacing between headings and bullets

Image Requirements

• Remember that image formatting is impossible within the blog, so use the Print Screen option on your keyboard to create screen shots within MS Word, and edit their size through either Microsoft Photo Editor or Adobe Photoshop
• Pictures inserted into the blog should be no smaller than 200 pixels wide and no larger than 800 pixels wide.
• To make the post seem uniform, make sure each picture is either exactly or very close to one of the following measurements of width
  • 200 pixels
  • 400 pixels
  • 600 pixels
  • 800 pixels
• Smaller pictures should be centered to avoid large spaces in the blog
• Upload pictures using the File Upload box below the blog post edit box.
• After upload, select to insert the picture in its full size with no link attached