Seven Continents Blog

Concept

To generate excitement on and off-campus about PLU’s global education programs by featuring one course from each of the seven continents, linked from the PLU main web page. Information on the Seven Continents site about each course will include: faculty bio, participant names, and itinerary overview. A blog with text and photo entries will be live from mid-December through mid-February. After the live blog concludes, the site will be moved to the Wang Center web site (Field Notes and Photo Gallery).

Promoted Widely

  1. Parents – December letter from Neal Sobania to parents of students in the seven courses
  2. On campus – Campus Voice newsletter, J-term class announcements (190’s), March Study Away fair, and other communications
  3. University Communications – Scene article/winter issue
  4. Admissions – Email to prospective students

Basic Blog Guidelines

  1. Faculty leaders and students decide when and how to participate. PLU encourages participation by all participants in the seven courses, but it’s not mandatory.
  1. Bloggers should post regularly – at least once a week is ideal, but more frequently is fine also. Post your first message in December, before you leave campus for the holidays.
  1. J-term off-campus programs are academic courses that travel. Send back stories and photos about what you’re experiencing and learning: culture and people, environment and nature, history and current issues.
  1. Before pushing the submit button, think about who will be reading the blog: parents, faculty, advisors, and students who may want to participate in a future J-Term.
  1. When you write a blog, be creative in expressing yourself! Have fun and share your insights. And, remember to be professional and appropriate.
  1. The Wang Center (specifically, Regan Babst and Morgan Keys – sojourner advocates) is responsible for monitoring and editing the blog. We expect you to make responsible postings and are allowing you to post what you want, when you want. However, items that indicate violations of PLU policy or law or that are considered to be offensive will be deleted, and your ability to continue to post will be in jeopardy.
  1. Therefore, consider the obvious: refrain from using foul or offensive language. Do not talk about partying or drinking. And remember that PLU students studying off-campus are responsible for upholding the same code of conduct as when studying on-campus.

Email contacts for assistance: / /

Accessing the Web site

The Study Away Seven Continents Web site is accessible anywhere there is an Internet connection. The URL for the Web site is:

Once you’re on the Web site you will see a login box located in the bottom right column. To login to the Web site, type your first and last name for the username and your first initial, last name for the password (see example top of page 2). NOTICE THAT THE LOGIN INSTRUCTIONS ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE USUAL PLU LOGIN!

Example:
Username: John Doe
Password: jdoe
Notes:
1. The user name is case sensitive; first and last name need to be initially capitalized.
2. The login password is your first initial and last name.
3. Be sure to change your password after you login for the first time. /

Now that you’re logged into the Web site you will notice your name in the right column. Below your name are three links.

  1. Create Content – Allows you to post new images or enter new blog (journal) entries
  2. My Account – Allow you to edit your account information. IMPORTANT: be sure to change your password once you have signed in.
  3. Logout – Logs you out of the Web site. Be sure to logout, especially if you’re using a public computer.
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Entering new content

To add new content click on the “create content” link located in the right column. You will see a new page with two options for creating content:

  1. Image - Allows the user to upload an image and description
  2. Personal Blog Entry – Allows the user to enter a new blog entry

Adding an image

From the “create content” page, click on the image link. Use the form to enter information regarding the image. Be sure to select the appropriate image gallery (e.g. If you’re part of the Asia group, then select Asia under the image gallery pull down). The Web site will automatically resize your images. Include a short description of your photo: location, subject, etc. ONLY SUBMIT A THUMBNAIL IMAGE.

Adding a blog entry

From the “create content” page click on the blog entry link. Use the form to enter a personal journal entry of your trip. If you’d like to add an image to your blog entry follow these steps:

  1. Position your cursor where you’d like the image thumbnail to appear within the “body” field
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  1. Click on the plus icon below the body field
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  1. A new window will appear with three text links at the top and several thumbnail images.
  2. Add image – This is a shortcut to the image form. It will allow you to create a new image while you’re creating a blog entry
  3. My images – This will show you a series of thumbnails for all of your uploaded images
  4. All images – This will show all of the images that have been uploaded
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  1. Click on an image thumbnail to see details regarding the image.
  2. Make any changes that you’d like to see to the image (be sure to select “thumbnail” under image to use option)
  3. Click insert code
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  1. The window will close and you’ll return to your blog post.

Inserted into your blog will be a string of code that will allow the image to appear within your blog entry. When you are finished inserting an image click submit to save your blog.

Log out

Finally, be sure to log out when you are done posting text and/or photos to your blog.

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