1. Go to http://learnerblogs.org (make sure you don’t go to “learnerblog” which is a different website.

2. Click the “click here” link under the headline: “Create your learner blog” (lower left screen).

3. A screen appears with forms to input the “username” you want to use and your “email”.

For your username, use either your first name and first intitial (no spaces or hyphens) or your last name. For your email, you cannot use your school email address. This user name will become part of the url for your website. For example, entering “umphrey” would lead to a blog with this url: “http://umphrey.learnerblogs.org”

4. When you have entered this information, click “Next.”

5. A new screen appears, showing your blog domain name and asking you for your blog title. This will be the big headline that will appear at the top of your website. For most students, this is a name like “Joe’s Place” though some names have been more individual. Be sure to pick something appropriate for a school website!

6. If everything worked, the next screen will say: “your blog” is yours. If there are problems (your username is already taken or your email is incorrect) go back and make whatever changes are needed.

7. After a little while (usually just a few seconds) you’ll get an email. It contains a link you must click on to activate your blog. After you do this, you will soon get a second email giving you your password. To log on to your blog, you need the username you chose above and this password.

8. Click on the link in the second email, and it will take you to the log on screen. Before you log on, add this page to your “favorites” or your “bookmarks” so you can easily get back to this page. Then log on and start blogging!

9. Once you’re logged on, click the “my profile” link in the upper right-hand corner of the control panel on your blog. This will open a page where you can enter personal information about yourself which will be available to people who visit your blog. Be careful about entering anything too personal. Consider things carefully before entering your full name. You may not want to do this.

In any case, toward the bottom of this page you can enter a new password.

10. Feel welcome to use this blog for your own purposes. But remember that what you post on this blog will appear on the student wiki! Be appropriate.