8 tips for becoming an author in our new marketplace
Here are a few quick tips to help you become an author in our new marketplace. We’ve seen your amazing Blendspace Lessons and know that other educators will find the hard work you’ve put into your teaching resources extremely valuable!
Tip 1: Publish any resources that have been successful with your students. A resource can be any collection of learning materials that support a unit or lesson, including activities, worksheets, lesson plans, assessments, books, presentations, games, homework, flashcards, rubrics, videos, songs, scripts, outlines, and more. The most compelling resources allow for differentiated instruction by including additional versions or questions tailored to engage diverse learners.
Tip 2: Turn your Blendspace Lessons into resources to sell. Apply the hard work you’ve already put into your Blendspace Lessons and double the reward. Any files you created for Blendspace can be uploaded as resources with external web content pasted as links within your documents. Or, number the links in a separate sources document so that they can be easily referenced throughout the rest of your resource.
Tip 3: Organization is key. The first file of a resource should be an attractive title page. You’ll also want to include an introduction that gives an overview, table of contents, and explanation about implementing your resource in the classroom. Consistently label and order all files. Make your resources comprehensive by including everything needed to use them successfully (e.g., assessments alongside lesson plans).
Tip 4: Include keywords, Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards in resource descriptions. Resource names should be immediately recognizable in a search result. Include keywords, phrases, grade levels, and subject areas that allow your audience to quickly identify the purpose and desired learning outcomes of your resource.
Tip 5: Mind your formatting. Easy-to-read fonts are typically sans serif (e.g., Arial, Verdana) and larger than 14pt. If you’re including worksheets or handouts, provide ample white space for students to write answers. Make file formats editable, so other educators can customize resources for their classrooms. Use popular file formats that don’t require special software, such as:
- Documents: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf
- Images: .jpg, .png, .gif, .bmp
- Presentations: .ppt, .pptx, .pdf
Tip 6: Stick to straightforward pricing. Simple resources (e.g., single lesson plans, worksheets, assessments) should generally be no more than $5, and more complex resources (e.g., booklets, videos, combinations of materials) may earn a higher price, up to $10. Consider customized pricing over $10 for only very complex resources (e.g., entire units, sets of activities).
Tip 7: Respect any and all copyrights. For all content in each resource, you must either be the copyright owner, receive permission from the copyright owner, or ensure that the content is covered under fair use or other applicable laws. The United States Copyright Office provides a detailed FAQ. You can also learn more about copyright for educators here. You can find free materials on The Edublogger.
Tip 8: Do a final check before hitting upload. Make sure your thumbnails are visually appealing and files are correctly ordered, including the title page. Check spelling, tags, and formatting. Include any attribution and copyright information. For step by step instructions on uploading resources, check out our video.
For more info, review our FAQ. Also, feel free to reach out to our content team at [email protected]; they’re dedicated to helping you be a successful author.