Alan shares a good idea: #
So this is what I am doing, just for the heck of it. This will be myWhen I find myself having dry spells here at the blog, I try to venture out and do lots of commenting. Commenting is essential — it’s not a conversation if it’s only one-way. I like that Alan’s formalized that process here. While I don ‘t know that I’ll pick one week to forego posting for commenting, expect that, when this space is void of new posts, I’m off making comments elsewhere. #
last blog post published here on my own blog, for a week. For the next
7 days, I will publish my ideas, communicate, etc, in the comment
spaces of Other People’s blogs. It’s an experiment, to see what that
level of communication is like. One can never have too many good
comments on their own blog, so this is my bit of paying it forward. #If it seems interesting, I urge others to pick one week out of the
year (not this one, I need my reader to have some published posts I can
comment on!), and spend it publishing in the comment-o-sphere. #
I feel the same way you do, commenting is essential, not only while blogging, but in everyday life. Whether it be in the classroom giving a lecture, conversations, or discussions, it is important to have constant feedback. Taking the information provided to you, you can improve upon what you do – fine tuning your skills to make it meaningful and worthwhile. So many times, people don’t want to hear about how they are doing, and those are the ones who do not do well, especially in the classroom. Without comments, or feedback what-so-ever, there is no way to know what you are doing right and wrong. It should be a “two-way street,” the students should hear from you and you from them. No one is perfect and we could all use some help now and again.
Bud: I’ve enjoyed your blog and your comprehensive resource sites, which have been helpful in getting me up to date with my teaching and discovering the rich possibilities of Web 2.0. I like this idea about commenting on other’s blogs. Since I began in November, I’ve struggled with what to post. I know that every time I sit in front of my computer struggling with what to write, I get a glimpse into how our students must feel. It also may be a case of self-confidence, especially as I see the creative people out there sharing their ideas. So far, the most difficult thing I’ve encountered as I’ve brought these tools and skills into the classroom is getting students to understand the power of viewing and responding to one another’s work. As an English teacher, I’ve spent quite a bit of instructional time teaching students to take part in discussions. This is the logical companion piece to that. Maybe the first step is for me to feel more comfortable and model the process. Thanks again for your guidance and insight!
Hi Bud, During my week of commenting only, I almost accidentally stumbled onto your post, how ironic! After 2 days or so of commenting on blogs currently in my reader, I started traveling from links to blogs off of some edubloggers (gulp, I just admitted I don’t subscribe to your feed, blush).
It’s been an interesting process, and pretty much you can still write ideas, but most of all, it reinforces my long held notion that blogging is participatory, not just yelling from the top of a mountain.
An woah, what a blog roll you have, lots of links for me to go off anr rummage for a place to comment!