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A1.2: ePortfolio
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A1.2: ePortfolioOVERVIEW:
● This is assignment will guide you through the process of setting-up and managing a ‘blog’which will be used as your ePortfolio.
● Think of your ePortfolio as a kind of online sketchbook. Your ePortfolio will be usedthroughout the year to present your work created on the iArt course and also Textiles andArt & Design outcomes.
● As well as serving as an ePortfolio, your blog will also provide you with a platform to explainyour work, a bit like a diary.
● There are 4 main outcomes required from you to complete this assignment:1. Sign-Up2. Setting up3. Customise4. Post
Guidance:● Throughout the iArt course it is important that you learn how to use the Apple Mac
computer. As such refrain from choosing 'Windows' as your preferred OS (OperatingSystem).
● Ensure you have organised a set of storage folders on your network home area/ spaceto allow you to save and access your work throughout the course. You will not be givena sketchbook for this course, instead all work produced should be of a 'digital' format.
● If you miss a lesson, ensure that you catch-up using Art Club (every Wednesday3-4pm) and/or by visiting the VLE eLearning pages for the iArt course where you canaccess resources and learning content to help you throughout the course.
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A1.2: ePortfolioTask 1: Signup to WordPress.com
● During this task you are to signup to a popular online blog service called: WordPress.● Read and follow the step by step instructions carefully below:
Step Instructions Image help
1 Open a web browserlike safari or chromeand navigate towww.twava.co.uk
2 Locate the Wordpressbutton and click it to goto the signingupscreen.
3 Blog and Username:You need to activateyour blog.
● Using youracademynetwork UN &PW, enter themin the login box.
● Click the Log Inbutton.
● Go to ICTSupport andinform them youhave ‘Activated’your blog andkindly ask themto create it foryou.
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A1.2: ePortfolio
Task 2: Setting up your ePortfolio/Blog
If you have successfully followed the previous task, you now have your own blog. Well done!Before you begin using your blog as an ePorfolio, you will need to set up a few things...
The picture above shows an example of the ‘Dashboard’ as seen when you first sign up.
Go to the next page....
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A1.2: ePortfolio
Task 2: Setting up your ePortfolio/BlogYou have many ways to setup and personalise your blog. This can be great fun, and rewarding too. But, itcan get complicated if you try to do too much too soon.
Before we begin settingup your blog. You need to be familiar with the main menu that sits across the top ofthe screen:
If you get lost and need to return to your dashboard, use the Dashboard link to return to the settings page/screen:
If after making changes to your blog, you need to see what they look like, but can’t seem to find a way to yourblog page, using the same My Blog menu, click the link called: Visit Site
Go to next page...
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A1.2: ePortfolioInstructions Image help
The first thing for you to do is to change to ‘theme’ ofyour blog.
From the Dashboard find the APPEARANCE linkand click on THEMES.
On this page you will see your current theme at thetop of the screen. If you like this theme ‘keep it’, butyou may like to see what other themes areavailable.
Below the current theme there are other examplesthat you may like to use.
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A1.2: ePortfolioIf/when you find an alternative theme that you wouldlike to use for your blog.
Click the link called: PREVIEW to view your blog asit would look using this theme.
If you don’t like what you see simply click on the ‘X’located in the top left corner of the Preview screen.
If you find a theme that you would like to use, thenclick the ACTIVATE link located in the top rightcorner of the preview screen.
With you new theme in place you can customise itfurther.To do this use the CUSTOM DESIGN link.
Changing your blog message/ title:
By default all Wordpress blogs begin life with thesame title and message.
Change the title of you blog by going to theAPPEARANCE menu (bottom left of the dashboardpage) and click the GENERAL link
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A1.2: ePortfolioIn the GENERAL settings you can change the name/title of your blog and the Tag line.
These will appear at the top of your blog on allpages.
After making your changes, click the SAVECHANGES button, which is located near the bottomof the screen/page.
To view your changes, simply go back to theDashboard and click Visit Site
Here (right) you can see how the above changesaffect the appearance of my blog with the newtheme.
Go to next page...
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A1.2: ePortfolioTask 2: Setting up your ePortfolio/Blog
With your blog set up as you would like it look (theme/style), the next thing for you to do is to ensure that yourblog has some ‘Widgets’. Widgets are a set of tools that will live on your blog pages alongside your posts/work. This can provide useful ways to navigate through your blog and access/ read your work.
Step Instructions Image help
1 Return to the ‘Dashboard’ of yourblog.
2 Navigate to the APPEARANCEmenu (bottom left) and click on theWIDGETS link
3 You will see a number of availablewidgets on the main menu.Click and drag as many widgetsonto your SIDEBAR as you like,although it is important that yourblog has at least the followingwidgets:
● Meta● Calendar● Tag Cloud● Categories● Most Recent● Search● Archives
When done, click the READ BLOGlink to see your changes.
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A1.2: ePortfolio
Go to the next page...
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A1.2: ePortfolioTask 3: Customise your blogIn the previous tasks, your will already have gone some way customising your blog. During ‘this’ task you willadd your own banner. You were asked to created your own banner in a previous lesson/HWK. Now is thetime to put your banner to good use as it will feature on your blog pages.
● NOTE: Only some themes will allow you to change the header of your blog. Check your theme optionsbefore you begin this task! If you don't have the option to change your Header/Banner thenapply your Banner as a background instead.
Step Instructions Image help
1 Go to the dashboard of your blog
2 Navigate to the APPEARANCE >Header
3 When the next screen appears, make anote of the image SIZE. If needed resizeyour banner by using Adobe Fireworks.
● Upload your banner by using theCHOOSE FILE button.
● Then click the UPLOAD button
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A1.2: ePortfolio4 You will then see a ‘Preview’ displayed
of your uploaded banner.● Tick the YES option for DISPLAY
TEXT● Select a colour for your text.● Click SAVE CHANGES
5 View your blog by using READ BLOGlink to see your new banner in place.
Go to next page...
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A1.2: ePortfolioStep 1: Go to Dashboard > Settings >Permalinks
Step 2: Select option 2 (as below) and save changes.
Go to next page...
Task 4: Your 1st PostOf course you can always modify and change the appearance and functionality of your blog at any time. But,www.twava.co.uk
A1.2: ePortfolioif you have completed the previous tasks/instructions, then your blog is now ready for your 1st post. A ‘Post’is an item of work/ message that you publish to your blog.
Just like working inside a traditional sketchbook, every new page that you work on in your sketchbook is kindof like adding a new post to blog (and viceversa).
Your 1st post is going to be about your previous assignment (A1: Reasearch).
Within this post you should include the work that you created on your word document. So open your worddocument and minimise it so that you can copy your work into your blog when needed.Step Instructions Image help
1 Find, open and minimise your previousassignment (A1: Research/task 1)
2 Go to your blog and use the link in the mainmenu to add a new post.
3 When the next screen appears you will need togive your new (1st) post a title: What is DigitalArt?
4 Next you need to add your work from theprevious assignment (document).Inside the text box either type up your work orcopy and paste from your document thecontent. Above the text box is an editor (similar to what you
would see on a word processor).To insert images use the buttons at the topwww.twava.co.uk
A1.2: ePortfolio(highlighted above).
5 Your 1st post should emulate your previousassignment and include facts, opinion,images/ examples and links to the sources ofyour work/ content/ images.During writing your post(s) you can save yourwork and preview your work a any time usingthe buttons on the right of the screen.
6 After you have finished your 1st Post, beforeyour PUBLISH your work, you need to add:
● Categories● Tags
The category is the assignment you areworking on (which assignment your postrelates to)Tags are KEYWORDS that you must assign toeach post.See the example (right)
7 Tick the correct category from your list
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A1.2: ePortfolio8 Check that you have added tags
9 When you have finished writing your post andhave added categories and tags, you are thenready to PUBLISH your work/ Post.
To do this click the PUBLISH button near thetop right of the screen.
10 To view your Post click the link above the posteditor:
Repeat the above steps for adding any new Post/ work to your blog.Your 1st set of ‘Posts’ should be:
1. What is Digital Art?2. Types of Creative Software3. Different Types/Methods of Digital Art4. My Banner
Do you have a smart phone?If so you can use the camera on your phone to access online resources to help you with this assignment.
All you need is a QR code reader app, point your phone web browser to one of readers below:
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A1.2: ePortfolio
● http://reader.kaywa.com● http://get.beetagg.com● http://www.quickmark.com.tw/En/basic/download.asp● http://europe.nokia.com/support/productsupport/nokian80/phonesoftware/smartphone● For iPhone users. Go to iTunes and search for: QR Code reader
Once you have a reader/ app on your smart phone. Simply take a quick snap of the code below, and you willbe redirected to the required resource, directly on your phone.
www.twava.co.uk
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