Here are a few tips about creating your own reflective diary. At the risk of appearing rude, the software is very straightforward and very user friendly and so step-by-step instructions really aren’t necessary. Also you would be best advised to devise a diary which suits you personally. However here’s a few tips which you might find useful
Creating your own reflective diary
- First of all create the thing by clicking on the “Create Blog” link at the top right hand side of the page.
- If you do not have a Google account the software will help you to create one. Follow the on-screen steps.
- Then you will be invited to name your reflective diary. Choose something original, yet memorable. Again follow the on-screen steps.
- You can then customise your reflective diary. How you do this is a matter of personal choice.
To create a Diary Entry
- From your main diary screen click on “New Post”, then follow the on-screen instructions.
- The software allows for editing of text and insertion of pictures in a range of formats.
To be able to search your archives by user-definable tags:
- From your main diary screen click on the “Design” ” link at the top right hand side of the page
- The “Edit Layout” screen will appear.
- In the “Blog Posts” section click “Edit”, and ensure the “Labels” icon is ticked.
- Go back to the “Edit Layout” screen and click on the “Add a Gadget” icon on the right hand side. Scroll down the list until you find “labels”. Add that Gadget.
- Ensure that from this point onward, every reflective entry you make is given a descriptive label (of your choice) at the entry creation stage.
To add a calendar to your Blog
- Sign in to your Google account and call up your Google - http://www.google.com/calendar/render
- Find the “My Calendars” on the left hand side of the screen and click on the downward pointing triangle
- Click on “Calendar Settings”
- Toward the bottom of the screen find the section marked “Calendar Address” and click on the blue “HTML” icon
- A window pops up. Click on “configuration tool”
- You can now configure how your calendar appears. You would be very wise to un-check the option for “title” to avoid being found by spamming robots. Once you are happy with how the calendar appears click on “Update HTML” at the top right of the screen.
- From your main diary screen click on the “Design” ” link at the top right hand side of the page
- The “Edit Layout” screen will appear.
- At the very bottom of the screen click on “Add a Gadget” and select “HTML/Javascript”
- Copy into this window the script you generated for your Google Calendar and save everything
- Sign in to your Google account and call up your Google - http://www.google.com/calendar/render
- Add diary entries. These will now be visible on your reflective diary screen.
- You can use Google’s functionality to create events and invite friends and colleagues by email.
