This project requires that you have an account in the programs listed below.  It is also helpful to create a home for your work.  Listed below are some helpful preparation steps.

• Google Drive - Create a folder where your form, uploaded photos, and social media info docs will live.
• Zapier 
• Trello - Create a Trello board and a list where you want your instructions to appear.  Not sure how?  Follow this guide!
• Curator - no special setup here, but it is helpful to have the page you want to add your showcase to ready by the time you get to this step

Optional: Canva (or another photo editing program to create showcase frames).  If you are working in a team, set up your team in Canva and create your showcase frames before starting this process.  New to Canva? Check out their Tutorials to get started!

It's easier if you have those all created ahead of time.

• Create a blank form or start with a copy our example form.
• Edit the questions you want people to answer.  Fewer questions will make it easier on your users.  Remember as well that ultimately, this information is what your Instagram text will be made up of, so you don't want too much text!
• If you're new to creating Google forms, check out Google's guide to editing forms!
• Don't forget to add a question asking to provide you with permission to share the work!  Remember - the images and projects are your user's intellectual property.
• Once the form is created, click on "Responses" at the top and then click on the small green Google Sheets box in the upper left hand box.  This will create a connected Google Sheets form that holds the responses and is needed to complete your Zap.

TIP:  We made uploading an image, choosing a showcase frame, and providing permission mandatory.  The rest of the questions are optional, allowing users to control how much or how little information is shared about their project.

Most questions are optional.  We encourage users to fill out the information below with as much or as little information as you'd like to share.

Maker Showcase

What picture(s) would you like us to share?

Which showcase frame should we use for the first image?

How do you want us to present your name or your group's name in the showcase image?

What pronouns should we use?

How do you want us to credit you in the text?

Tell us about your work and what you do!

If you have a picture of your work in your showcase image, what should we call the project?

What hashtags would you like us to use? (options include 3Dprinting, Glowforge, CricutMaker, Engineering, Humanities, Arts, Games,and other)

I affirm that this information is accurate and provide permission for this material to be shared on social media. (this is a 'yes" tick box and must be answered).

 

Work in Process

What picture would you like us to share?

Which showcase frame should we use for the first image?

How do you want us to present your name or your group's name in the showcase image?

What pronouns should we use?

How do you want us to credit you in the text?

What name can we use for your project?

What is the goal of the project?

What stage is this project in?

What materials are you using for your project?

Is there anything you're challenged with that you'd like to ask the community for feedback on?

What hashtags would you like us to use? (options include 3Dprinting, Glowforge, CricutMaker, Engineering, Humanities, Arts, Games,and other)

I affirm that this information is accurate and provide permission for this material to be shared on social media. (this is a 'yes" tick box and must be answered).

 

#Fail & Learn

What picture would you like us to share?

Which showcase frame should we use for the first image?

How do you want us to present your name or your group's name in the showcase image?

What pronouns should we use?

How do you want us to credit you in the text?

What is your goal?

What is your problem? 

Is there a specific question you'd like to ask for help with?

What hashtags would you like us to use? (options include 3Dprinting, Glowforge, CricutMaker, Engineering, Humanities, Arts, Games,and other)

I affirm that this information is accurate and provide permission for this material to be shared on social media. (this is a 'yes" tick box and must be answered).

 

Project Showcase

What picture would you like us to share?

Which showcase frame should we use for the first image?

How do you want us to present your name or your group's name in the showcase image?

What pronouns should we use?

How do you want us to credit you in the text?

What name can we use for your project?

Tell us about your project!  What was your goal?  What did you do?

What materials did you use for your project?

How long did you work on this project?

What was one thing you learned while working on your project?

What hashtags would you like us to use? (options include 3Dprinting, Glowforge, CricutMaker, Engineering, Humanities, Arts, Games,and other)

I affirm that this information is accurate and provide permission for this material to be shared on social media. (this is a 'yes" tick box and must be answered).

 

Use our template Zap 1 to get you started!   If you have a paid account, you can use our multi-step Zap template and combine the two Zaps described into one!  

• Choose "Try this Zap" after clicking on the link above. Zapier will walk you through the steps in the app.  They've been listed below so you know what to expect.
• You will be prompted to connect to Google Forms.  Select the account you want to use when prompted.  You should have already created your form at this point.  If you haven't created the attached Google Sheet for the answers to your form, be sure to do so now.
• Next you will choose the spreadsheet that has your answers.  If you don't see your form, it's because there isn't an associated answers spreadsheet yet.
• The default sheet with responses is "Form Responses 1".  This will only change if you've directly edited the sheet names.
• Next you will connect your Google Doc account
• If you have also used our form, your Google Doc template will be set up for you and match all of the answers.  If not, this next step is where you'll write out your template.
  • Write out the text you want to remain the same for all responses.  Our template is provided below so you can customize it if you'd like!
  • Use the elements drop down to choose specific answers to fill that text in specific places throughout the form. 
• Choose the folder you want your docs to save. ANY new document in this folder will create trigger Zap 2 to create a Trello card, so make sure it's a folder you won't use for anything else!
• Send a test doc and confirm it works!

Once you have your test doc sent, it's time to create Zap 2!

Here is the template text we used for our template Zap.  You'll need to drag and drop your answers into the correct spot based on your form, but hopefully this will help get you started!  The brackets {} indicate that the response to that question should go in that spot. The reason you see the b tags is so that the text shows as bold in the google doc. This makes it easier to read. The great thing about this Zap is that it can include basic html markup for the text!

<b>Type of project</b>

{What do you want to showcase?}

<b>Maker Showcase:</b>

Picture location:
{What picture would you like us to share?}

Canva Information:
Frame - {Which showcase frame should we use for the first image?}
Name - {How do you want us to present your name or your group's name in the showcase image?}
Pronouns- {What pronouns should we use?}
Project name - {If you have a picture of your work in your showcase image, what should we call the project?}

Text for post:
Meet {How do you want us to credit you in the text?}! We asked them to tell us about what they do, and here's what they had to say. "{Tell us about your work and what you do!}"
{What hashtags would you like us to use?}

 

<b>Project in Process:</b>

Picture location:
{What picture would you like us to share?

Canva Information:
Frame - {Which showcase frame should we use for the first image?}
Name - {How do you want us to present your name or your group's name in the showcase image?}
Pronouns- {What pronouns should we use?}
Project name - {What name can we use for your project?}

Text for post:
This project in process is being worked on by {How do you want us to credit you in the text?}.
Project Goal: {What is the goal of the project?}
Project Stage: {What stage is this project in?}
Materials: {What materials are you using for your project?}
Question for you: {Is there anything you're challenged with that you'd like to ask the community for feedback on?}
{What hashtags would you like us to use?}

 

<b>Project Showcase:</b>

Picture location:
{What picture would you like us to share?}

Canva Information:
Frame - {Which showcase frame should we use for the first image?}
Name - {How do you want us to present your name or your group's name in the showcase image?}
Pronouns- {What pronouns should we use?}
Project name - {What name can we use for your project?}

Text for post:
Checkout this project showcase! This project was created by: {How do you want us to credit you in the text?}
About the project: {Tell us about your project! What was your goal? What did you do?}
Something learned: {What was one thing you learned while working on your project?}
Materials used: {What materials did you use for your project?}
Time invested: {How long did you work on this project?}
{What hashtags would you like us to use?}

 

<b>#Fail and Learn:</b>

Picture location:
What picture would you like us to share?

Canva Information:
Frame - Which showcase frame should we use for the first image?

Text for post:
Freedom to fail includes sharing your challenges with others so we can all learn together. This #fail was brought to you by: {How do you want us to credit you in the text?}
Project Goal: {What is your goal?}
Problem: {What is your problem?}
Help them answer this question: {Is there a specific question you'd like to ask for help with?}
{What hashtags would you like us to use?}

Now that you have your google doc complete, it's on to Zap 2!  If you're using the free version of Zapier, you'll need to create a new Zap.  Otherwise, you can jump right to the step that has you setting up your Trello card below for the multi-step Zap setup.

• Once you click on the link above, choose "Try this Zap"
• You'll be prompted to connect to your Google Docs account.  Make sure you use the same account you used to set up Zap 1.
• When prompted to choose a folder, find the folder that you created earlier for all your Social Media docs to be created to.  ANY new document in this folder will create trigger this Zap to create a Trello card.
• Test the trigger to make sure it's connected properly
• Confirm that you want to create a new Trello card with this Zap.
• Connect to your Trello account
• Choose the board and list you want your new Trello card to appear on.  This will be unique to you.
• If you're using the same template as we are, the rest of the card will be set up to use our settings!  You can also customize this however you want.  Here is what we have created on the card:
  • The title of the card is the same as the title of the document that triggers it.
  • The description of the card reads" A new entry is ready for a showcase! Please review and upload the showcase object to our Instagram. If you think that the post is inappropriate for any reason, check in with our full time staff for extra review."
  • The card includes a link to the document so the person creating the Instagram post has easy access to the necessary information.
  • The card creates a checklist called "Create Instagram post" with the following items:
    • Create showcase image in Canva
    • Customize Instagram Text
    • Upload to Instagram

Once you've finished creating both of your Zaps, go to your Zapier dashboard and make sure the button next to your Zaps is green. This means that they are turned on. Then, fill out your form and test it! With a free version, it may take up to 15 minutes to create the Trello card after the document is created, so it helps to be patient.

 

It's the final step!  The first thing that Curio will do when you create your account is prompt you to add a source.  For the purposes of this project, your source is your Instagram account.

Once you've connected your account, click on the "style" option on the bottom left.  This will let you determine how your posts show up on the page.  The free version is limited to one of the four style options for each layout, but there are still plenty of layouts to choose from!  The showcase above uses the Grid layout (Sydney style) with only 2 rows.  The rest of the settings are the default settings.

Once you've determined your settings, click "save' and "publish feed" in the upper right.

Curator will give you html text that you can plug into your website.

You can update the style on Curator, and it will update on your website without having to re-copy the code.

NOTE:  Curator refreshes every 24 hours, so it's best to have some test posts added to your Instagram before you connect your account.  If you don't connect it right away, you can always disconnect and reconnect it.  This also means that your web showcase might be behind your Instagram showcase, depending on when the next refresh is.