How to Use Features on this NING Network

Many of our members have had questions on how to use the various features on this site and other NING supported social media.  I hope this will be helpful.  Katie

GETTING STARTED:

 

20 Things I Learned About Browsers & The Web, CLICK HERE.

 

How to Use Our Features:

COPYRIGHT LAWS:

When entering either a blog or discussion, please keep in mind that there are copyright laws that protect the author's original materials when entering information from various publications, emails, videos, etc.  In most cases it is permissible to enter a few paragraphs and then end the blog/discussion with:

"To read the rest of the story, CLICK HERE." 

Once you do this, with your mouse highlight the CLICK HERE and then click on the LINK on the menu bar above the box where you are entering your materials.  This will allow you to enter the hyperlink to the page so that the readers can read the rest of the article.  Yes, I know, it takes more time to go to another web page, but we all must follow the laws regarding this issue. 

Please do not be offended if in the future the Moderators shorten your blogs or discussions to follow the above format because we have to protect all of our members.

Blogs & Discussions:

Place your mouse on the MEMBERS tab on main menu bar.  Select BLOGS. When the next page appears you will notice a +ADD button in the upper right side of the page, to the left of your name.  Click +ADD.

The follow screen will appear:

It is my personal preference to select MORE OPTIONS at the bottom of the screen.  Once you do this, the following screen appears:

Tags:

Notice the TAGS at the bottom.  You will want to think of the subject/topics to enter here that would direct other members when they do a SEARCH to find related articles.  Enter each subject and separate them with a comma.  If you do not want the words to be separated, for example:  Tea Party News, you must type it as follows:  Tea_Party_News.  I try to enter TAGS first because otherwise I tend to forget them.  This is very important information for others who are researching particular subjects, so please try to remember to enter the TAGS. 

Next, enter the topic of discussion in the SUBJECT.  Use a topic that you think will attract the members to your Blog/Discussion.

The Main Menu Bar:

Links:

Now you are ready to enter your materials in the box below the menu bars.  When you enter information that you want to LINK to other web sites, be sure to highlight that area with your mouse, then click on LINK.  The following screen will appear:

The ext box information should match the area that you highlighted.  If it appears blank, as above, then you forgot to highlight the area you wished linked.  Insert the hyperlink in box http://.  Click OK.

Pictures:

To enter photos, remember that most times you will need to create the picture first on your computer and then import the file, although there are exceptions when you can copy and paste directly into your blog.  

To enter a picture into your Blog/Discussion from your computer, use the icon to the right of LINK.  The following screen will appear.

Next click Browse and then select the file from your computer you wish to use, then click OK.

You can now adjust the positioning of the picture inside your blog/discussion by marking the boxes to the right of Layout.  Next determine the size you wish displayed and enter size next to Width. CLICK OK.

If you forgot to edit picture as you wanted it to appear on your blog,  double click on photo once it is inserted and you will notice that EDIT and DELETE appear at bottom of the photo.  When you select EDIT, the above screen will once again appear.  If you select DELETE, the photo will be removed.

Videos:

To enter a video, use the icon to the right of the picture icon. The following screen will appear

Paste the embedded code inside the box, then click OK.

For more information on how to enter videos from YouTube, CLICK HERE. 

Plain Text & Removing Formatting:

Many times when copying articles on the web they will be formatted in such a way that it does not post properly.  Before inserting the materials into your blog, Select the T to the right of the VIDEO icon. The following screen will appear:

Paste the copied information inside the box, then click OK.

Files From Your Computer:

To enter a file from your computer,  click the paperclip icon next to the T.  The following screen will appear:

Click CHOOSE FILE.  Then select the file from your computer.  Once yu have done this the screen will change in appearance (which I am working on correcting the colors) as seen below:

Naturally, the name of the file you selected will appear, I just used one of mine for demonstration purposes!  Next, CLICK OK.

The Link URL will then appear at the spot you indicated you wanted the file inserted in your blog.

Text Enhancements:

To make your Blog/Discussion look more "outstanding" you can choose various items from the formatting menu bars below the above described selections: 

Font, Size, A (this will change the font color), B (makes text BOLD), I (makes text ITALICS), S (Strikeout text), U (underlines text).

The next three buttons will parallel lines will position the text: left, center, right

" Blocks a section of text being quoted.

• Will add bullets to emphasize items

Next to bullets is numbering for creating outline formats

Next to numbering is an eraser - will remove current formatting in body of text

Next to eraser is icon to view your work in FULL SCREEN edit mode.

Once you have completed your Blog/Discussion, click PREVIEW BEFORE YOU PUBLISH.  This will display how your blog/discussion will appear.  If your need to edit something in your blog/discussion, click BACK to make your changes.  It is always a good idea to preview one more time.  If everything is exactly like you want it, click PUBLISH POST. 

Please note that blogs have to first be approved by our Moderators so please, again, PREVIEW these before PUBLISHING to help save us all some time.  If you want to edit a blog after it has been published and approved, you will once again have to wait for approval.

Sharing:

Once your Blog/Discussion has been published, scroll down to the bottom of the article and you will see SHARE.

By clicking Twitter and Facebook, this will post your blog/discussion to your Twitter and Facebook and other social networking pages. 

You can also SHARE immediately your Blog/Discussion/Videos/Photos with any of your FRIENDS on this network.  Click SHARE and the following appears:

When you select CHOOSE FROM FRIENDS, you can choose individuals by clicking each individual name - or - FRIENDS ON THIS NETWORK will send to all friends on this network.

You can also send it to those on your personal email address by entering the email addresses in the box below SEND TO: 

NOTE:  These emails remain your confidential property and are not shared or seen by any Administrator or Moderator.

Once you have made your selections, click SHARE THIS PAGE.

That's all there is to entering blogs and discussions and I hope this encourages each of you to contribute frequently to keep our members informed.  

Go to MEMBERS on the main menu bar at the top of your screen and CLICK MEMBERS.  The following page will appear:

Click VIEW ALL beneath the pictures and a list of all the newest to the older members will appear.  Click on any name to see if you might want to include them as your friend.  Then you will see the following below their pictures on the left side of the page:

When you click ADD AS FRIEND, you will be given the chance to TYPE YOUR PERSONAL MESSAGE and to tell them a little bit about yourself and why you would like to be friends.

Once you have typed your message, click SEND and an invitation to accept your friend request is emailed to the member.  Keep in mind you are only allowed up to 100 friend requests for the entire NING network combined, regardless of which social network you belong to. 

Gifts:

However, to make additional friends, you can send GIFTS with messages requesting to be friends.  Everyone enjoys receiving gifts and this is a great way to start conversations with new friends.

Once you click this icon, the following screen appears:

You will then want to click on the Ribbon if you wish to send Free Gifts.  The other icons are paid through the NING network and work on any site within the NING network.  This site is not paid for this feature.  Once you click on the gift, then enter a message in the box below gift selections, noting you are limited  to 200 characters, then click, SEND GIFT.

If you would like to send gifts to more than one person at a time, click +ADD, next to the persons name in the upper left portion of the screen.  You will then be allowed to select 19 additional members to send gifts to all at the same time.  You will NOT be able to customize the message for each member using this method. Once you have selected your members, click ADD, then SEND GIFT.  You will get a message confirming that you gifts to 20 members have been sent.

Unwanted Emails:

The Administrators and Moderators have no control over which emails a member receives.  But here is some helpful information, just click on the links below:

If you do not wish to receive emails from a particular person, go to their page and select one of two options:

BLOCK EMAILS or REMOVE AS FRIEND.

To change your email settings as to which emails you wish to receive,  CLICK HERE.

If you are still receiving unwanted emails after you follow these steps, it is a technical issue on NING and please send us a notice so that we can get it corrected.  

We believe in our 1st Amendment rights granted to us by the constitution.  However, we would like to encourage our members not to use profanity (such as the "F" bomb) or any form of name calling. 

We are free to express our thoughts and beliefs but NEVER to incite any type of insurrection or threats of violence towards individuals or our government.  Any such remarks will not be tolerated in the least and memberships will be suspended for these violations. 

Hopefully, this information has been helpful ... I am not a NING network teacher, but wanted to share with you what I have learned over the past few months and I hope this has encouraged each of you to submit materials to share with our members.  Happy Blogging! 

Katie Baker

If you have other questions, please feel free to contact me, CLICK HERE.