Embedding Media: the Nerves of the Blog

Even though I am way behind in completing the "Kick Start Your Blog Challenge," I am determined to finish and keep the blog rolling.

I realize that I am guilty of boring blog posts. To me, those are the posts that have no pictures, no video, no nothin' except words. I admit that there are times I just want to write/complain/preach and I don't take the time to add interesting media to support my rant. This is dangerous to the health of my blog. I know that, personally, I am more drawn to a blog that includes some type of media.

I have added a video below that has nothing to do with embedding media or nerves, except that maybe it will calm some nerves of those who just want to see something fun. If you've never read Knuffle Bunny or held Knuffle Bunny, you might want to try sometime. He (or she) is pretty cool. My daughter thinks so too.

While I would not advocate that people, me included, add media to a blog post simply to make it look good (as I have here), the video above is designed to make the point that it is more interesting to see media in a post.

What is Illini Bluffs Library?

It is a place to...

have fun.

get work done.

work with technology.

find a good book.

relax.

Avatars: The Real You or Not

I've played around with using avatars a year ago or thereabouts, and I really was not happy with them. I can never get one that I feel resembles me (I mean, when your handsome and all... ahem). Then, I tried coming up with some that fit my likes. Then, I created crazy avatars. The trouble with those is I would get tired of them and want to always change them, and I think consistency is important. So I gave up on using avatars. I did try a couple today and created, again, interesting representations, but nothing that I like to use as a regular. I used Picassoheads and Reasonably Clever lego avatars. I have also used voki in the past without any pleasing results. Yes, that is a lego avatar of me being a famous treasure hunter like Indiana Jones.

I like using pictures of some famous people or characters. On Facebook, I am represented with a famous picture of my favorite president. I have also been Han Solo, Snoopy, and Spiderman. Lots of people complained that they weren't sure it was me. They have gotten over that and now everyone knows on Facebook that I am my favorite president.

I am not a big fan of using a picture of me to represent myself for...well...I don't know. Privacy? No good pictures of myself? I don't have a good reason, but I usually don't use pictures of me. Obviously, if you go to the bottom of the page you will see a picture of me. I figure it is only fair that if you are taking the time to read the ramblings of the Cycling Librarian, you might as well know what I look like. So, avatars? I'm not a big fan.

Features of an effective About Me page

As I continue Edublog's Teacher Challenge, I have learned to add pages to my blog. You will find pages right below the picture at the top. I added an "About Me" page that will give you a bit of a bio about, well, who else, me. Keep looking for other pages to be added with resources from the Cycling Librarian.

As I browsed through some of my favorite blogs' "About Me" pages, I noticed almost everyone includes a biography including education and past career experiences. I did like that one included a short bio and a long bio. My entire bio is short. One About Me page added some public speaking solicitation, which seemed appropriate on that particular page. I plan to look to more "About Me" pages to find unique elements so I can make mine less "I did this..." and more...something else.

Really good blog post

As you may have noticed in yesterday's post, I am reinventing "The Cycling Librarian" blog. Well, it might be considered more like giving the ball a kick after it got stuck in some tall grass. Anyway, I am participating in Edublog's Teacher Challenge where I will complete 30 activities to help my blogging skills improve. I know all one of you will really appreciate this which is why there is probably only one of you (thanks mom) currently reading. Today's activity is to find a good blog post and comment on it. Since I subscribe to several good blogs this activity is not much trouble.

I really enjoy reading Scott McLeod's blog "Dangerously!Irrelevant." Here is the link to his most recent post which is especially timely. It is called Blogging v. teaching. As the title of the post indicates, he poses the questions, "do you see blogging as an extension of your teaching? If not, should you? On the flip side, do you see teaching as an extension of your blogging?"

One thing that I like about his post is that he does explicitly ask the reader questions in which he intends an answer. This works for him because he has several comments which follow the post. I also like that he includes other links that relate to the topic being discussed.

Now, the reason I was especially interested in his topic is because when I look at the goals I listed in yesterday's post, teaching is a big part of what I wanted to do with my blog. I enjoy blogs because they act as a way to think, but where others can think with you. I never pretend to be the authority on any topic in which I write, so I hope no one ever thinks that when they read my thoughts. I put them in the blog because it is what I am thinking and I am curious what others think. If I am certain about something, it will be clearly stated something like this, "I know this to be true." or "I am certain that..." Otherwise, it is all open to discussion. As always, what do you think?