A new session of each course opens each month, allowing you to enroll whenever your busy schedule permits!
How does it work? Once a session starts, two lessons will be released each week, for the six-week duration of your course. You will have access to all previously released lessons until the course ends.
Keep in mind that the interactive discussion area for each lesson automatically closes 2 weeks after each lesson is released, so you’re encouraged to complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The Final Exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the Final Exam has been released, you will have 2 weeks plus 10 days to complete the Final and finish any remaining lessons in your course. No further extensions can be provided beyond these 10 days.
Week One
Lesson 01 - Introduction
Wednesday
Welcome to the beginning of your blogging adventure! By course completion, you will know how to blog, produce your own audio and video podcasts, and how to market and promote your blog. In this first lesson, you will get acquainted with blogging terms, the parts of a blog, and the important differences between a blog and a website.
Lesson 02 - Blogging
Friday
It makes sense to give something a try before doing it yourself, right? This lesson will teach you how to participate in the blogosphere by commenting on a blog of your choosing. This lesson walks you through a series of questions to help you develop a sustainable plan for your blog's content, setup, and long-term maintenance.
Week Two
Lesson 03 - Hosting and Software
Wednesday
This lesson explores your options for blogging software and hosting. You will learn about free online blog software options and work with two free blogging services, Blogger and WordPress. By the end of this lesson, your blog will be ready to go.
Lesson 04 - Appearance
Friday
Why settle for a cookie-cutter blog when you can create a custom blog look? In this lesson, you will pick the perfect image for your background and spice up your blog's header on your Blogger and WordPress blogs.
Week Three
Lesson 05 - Privacy
Wednesday
In this lesson, you will get to decide who can read your blog. You will learn how to set your blog's privacy levels and comment field, in case you want to limit who can read or comment on your blog. Finally, this lesson teaches you how to add a few gadgets that help readers easily navigate your blog.
Lesson 06 - Styling
Friday
This lesson covers changing the font, color, and size of your text, and adding lists and links to enhance content and interactivity. You will also practice working with formatting tools to make your first post look great online.
Week Four
Lesson 07 - Photos
Wednesday
You've mastered the process of formatting the text of your blog post, so now it's time to add some photos. After learning how to locate and incorporate appropriate images into your draft, create labels to categorize the content of your post. Next, learn the seven steps of promoting your blog, including how to utilize Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest as promotion tools.
Lesson 08 - Podcasts
Friday
It's time to explore the podcast. You will learn the podcasting terms needed to feel comfortable with this technology. This lesson introduces the PREP method of podcasting: planning your own podcast using an effective formula for developing content, setup, and maintenance.
Week Five
Lesson 09 - Your First Audio Podcast
Wednesday
This lesson explores the minimum equipment needed to record your first audio podcast—as well as other equipment you may find of interest if you become a serious podcaster. And, after that, you will continue to follow the PREP method of podcasting by recording your first podcast using Audacity, a free audio recording program.
Lesson 10 - Editing and Publishing Audio Podcasts
Friday
This lesson focuses on the last two steps of the PREP method of podcasting: editing and publishing. You will learn how to cut out dead air and an unexpected sneeze, adjust the volume, and add effects so the sound fades in and out. Then, it will be time to publish your work.
Week Six
Lesson 11 - Video Podcasts
Wednesday
Now that you know how to prepare, record, edit, and publish an audio podcast, doing the same for a video podcast is going to be a lot easier. In this lesson, you will learn the equipment you can use for video podcasting.
Lesson 12 - Editing Video Podcasts
Friday
It's time to fine-tune your video podcasting skills as well as your video podcast. In this final lesson, you will learn how to add transitions and video effects to your video file, trim unwanted portions out, and make audio enhancements.