This post is created as a reflection on Step 5 of Educator Professional Blog Challenge, working with widgets
Hiccups:
While adding Google Translator widget to my sidebar, I learned that when embedding a code, I need to copy & paste the code in text box of side bar, save it & then close the textbox. Failing to close the textbox and just saving the embedded code will result in the code being posted on sidebar instead of the Google Translator widget. Hmmm! Who knew, not following a simple step in the direction will result in a headache! Guess, I have to learn some stuff hard way!
Adding twitter widget, in timeline mode may not be wise for brevity. I need to go back & explore to adjust the settings so only selected / favorite tweets will appear on sidebar.
streamlining
There are too many many widgets to choose from. I wish to share a thought provoking and clutter free blog with you. Therefore, I have to pick and choose which widgets to keep & which to fondly remember. Some of the widgets had to go but which ones? Avatar, and about me with an image fell on sword of delete button and get annihilated. Posts, Categories, links & Tag Cloud were able to plead their case & succeeded to stay on sidebar for now. After visiting several blogs, subscribe to the blog via email and Google translator won prominent places. Though I needed to upgrade the blog to Pro in order to add Subscribe me widget, the $$ I spend is worth it.
Show & Tell:
After learning about what is widget, how to enhance the functionality of e-portfolio by adding widgets and judicial use of widgets, I have decided to create a Prezi to share my must have widgets with you.
In process of creating widgets for my blog, I visited several blogs. I am sharing with you three of the uncluttered, visually appealing blogs from colleagues with solid content with hope that just like me, you will also benefit by visiting them. Notice how each of these educators have proudly displayed their professional learning badges to validate their expertise.
I liked double sidebar, one with blogroll & professional achievements second with everything else, of Cindy’s blog, http://thissideofthird.edublogs.org
Dan Galagher have used Google Plus image and Visitor map in his almost whimsical blog A tech perspective ….or something like that. I liked how he is always teaching; he invites us for professional learning opportunity by adding an active image to virtual reality boot camp on his blog.As I am mentoring students in 100 word challenge, and Student blogging challenge, I would like to learn how to add live links.
Finally, Sue Fitzgerald of unpretentious librarian shows us how give snippets of blogs she likes to visit by her choice of widget.
Thank you for visiting with me.
After visiting with me, I hope you will choose to visit some of the blogs I mentioned in this post. As always, let me know what you like & how I can improve.
