What is GLOGSTER?
Glogster is a social network that allows users to
create free interactive posters, or glogs. A glog,
short for "graphics blog", is an interactive
multimedia image.
Users can insert text, images, photos, audio,
videos, special effects and other elements into
their glogs to generate a multimedia online
creation.
Getting started
There are two GLOGSTER sites. With students,
make certain you use the education site at
www.edu.glogster.com.
Create a teacher account – click “I’m a Teacher”,
then go from there.
You can easily reuse usernames and passwords.
Getting around GLOGSTER
Basic creation
First things first…
Give your glog a name before you do anything
else!
Names should be student specific – it will make
it MUCH easier when you’re trying to find one.
Make sure the AUTOSAVE function is set to ON.
Click on screen graphics and hit the trash can to
delete. You want a clean slate when you begin.
Editing tools
GRAPHICS: select from a huge number of premade graphics
TEXT: insert written material
IMAGE: add a picture
VIDEO: upload your own or from a site
SOUND: upload music or a podcast
DATA: only available with upgraded license
DRAW: only available with upgraded license
WALL: choose your background
Creating your project
You can do things in any order you wish, and you
can go back and change things later if you don’t
like something.
I like to start with the background (click WALL
for that). From there I generally add the title,
along with the presenter’s name.
You can then add text, pictures, graphics, video,
and live links.
GRAPHICS
Click the GRAPHICS button. Look
through the static and animated
graphics. When you see something you
may want to use, select it, then hit USE
IT. Once it’s on your page, you can use
the individual element small black box
editing tools.
You have
several
choices
when you
insert text.
TEXT
BUBBLE will give you graphics
that will look like someone is
talking (like a comic strip)
TITLE will generally provide
space for a line or two of text
TEXT options will give you plenty
of room to type in or paste quite a
bit of information. If you don‘t
have enough space, don’t worry
and keep on typing. A scroll bar
function will automatically be
inserted into the text box.
IMAGE
UPLOAD - Upload an image from your
computer or flash drive.
LINK - Enter a link and you will be shown
what elements can be taken from that web
page. Often, I have found that the element I
wanted to take was not available by this
method. (Flash elements cannot be ‘lifted’
from a web site to use as a still image;
however, ‘lifting’ items from a website is a
type of plagiarism, so students should be
told not to do it anyway unless the image is
public domain.)
GRAB - This tool allows you to take a picture
of yourself using your web cam.
Once you UPLOAD, LINK or GRAB your
image, click USE IT. On your glog wall you
can then edit the image.
VIDEO
UPLOAD - Upload a video from your computer or flash drive.
LINK - Enter a link and you will be shown what elements can be taken from
that web page. This is quite useful for acquiring a video from YouTube or
other video sharing sites.
GRAB - This tool allows you to take a video of yourself using your web cam.
Once you find what you want, select a Player. This will be the icon on your
glog viewers will see to get to your video.
SOUND
UPLOAD - Upload a sound
file from your computer or
flash drive. Your sound will
need to be in an MP3
format.
LINK - Enter a link and you
will be shown what
elements can be taken
from that web page.
GRAB - This tool allows
you to take an audio
recording of your voice
using your web cam.
Like with video, you can
select a Player to click on
your glog.
WALL
Scroll through your glog
wall choices, select the
one you want, then click
USE IT.
Editing items once they’re
on your glog
This small black EDIT tool box allows you to
edit individual items on your glog wall.
You can do the following functions, in order
from left to right:
EDIT
Change the Graphics Color
Add Link
Add Effects
Bring it Forward
Put it Behind
Clone
Cancel Changes
Delete
More editing tips
Change Color
Click the color spectrum
box.
Choose/create the
desired color.
You cannot enter an exact
color identification
number.
Add URL
Copy the address from
the browser and paste it
in the url box.
Hit APPLY for the
change to take effect.
Create effects (fx)
Use the slider to create and
alter a shadow for the
element you are editing.
the DISTANCE of the
shadow from the element,
the ANGLE of the shadow
from the element,
the ALPHA (darkness) of
the shadow under the
element,
the BLUR of the edges
around the shadow, and
the COLOUR of the shadow
using the color picker box at
the bottom.
GLOGSTER applications
Make an interactive multimedia book report.
Chart a process.
Put ideas into subcategories and define them with images, audio and video.
Publish, illustrate and record students reading their original poetry.
Post instructions for an assignment or lesson.
Create a page that links students to other pages you wish to compile.
Make a final product of research results.
Create a newsletter for parents.
Applications continued…
Present student research based on interviews.
Introduce a person, topic, or genre.
Share new vocabulary, record conversations, or write in a target foreign language.
Create a classroom or school bulletin board.
Introduce a unit of study or post a class starter with something for kids to work on while the
class gets settled.
Post a review of yesterday’s lesson, or videos of yesterday’s lesson, lecture, lab, etc.
Create a unit compilation for student review, as well as use by absent students with links to
handouts, sites, lectures, instructions, etc.
Present a portfolio of student work (or group work).