Comments on: Why has no-one commented?

By: Challenge – week 2 | Technology in our classroom

Challenge – week 2 | Technology in our classroom — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:35:46 +0000

[...] world. How is someone going to find yours? I asked a similar question when I started blogging in this post. Why is nobody commenting? What were some of the tips teachers and my readers gave me about [...]

By: Establishing classroom resources and routines | Pictures of Practice in Schools

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:51:53 +0000

[...] You can share Sue’s journey from ‘her first day at blogging‘ through wondering ‘why has no-one commented?’ to seeking advice from others about ‘Creating a classroom blog‘. Sue has now [...]

By: Rafa Ribas

Rafa Ribas — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:21:19 +0000

There you go, another dot in your ClustrMap, this time from Spain!
I have not worried too much about comments yet because I am first finding what I want my blog to be about. At the moment I am mostly concerned about reaching my students in a different (more interesting?) way, but I am beginning to enjoy the conversations that take place in this eduworld we live in!
I think we still have to teach our students to READ blogs, to engage in these conversations and eventually form a part of them… but as someone mentioned earlier, it is good that we are still prepare to learn even more than teach. Enjoy the blogging!

By: tasteach

tasteach — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:36:07 +0000

G’day Sue – Wow!! That is an oft used name in the blogging world. I am loving blogging and I can certainly see how it will become addictive.

G’day Mike – Have a go at blogging. Don’t procrastinate – I didn’t think anyone was reading mine but I’ve had over 40 visitors in the first few days – I just hope they will also come back again and take part in the conversation.

G’day Inge – I’ve just had an email from Sue Waters saying she had mentioned my blog on her twitter. So thanks for coming and checking it out. Once I get back to school, the blog should probably become more relevant to what I am teaching and what both the students and I are learning about Web 2.0

G’day Kate – Thanks for that. I have found out that many people will make a comment back if you comment to their blog. The problem is there are so many great blogs out there on so many different topics. I can see I am going to have to add to my blogroll rather than have links in my favourites folder as I have at present.

G’day Susan – Thanks for coming to my blog. I know one person locally has commented on my blog. The same person who has taught me so much about using a smartboard (thanks Ros) Also just to get my comments started, I asked my brother to have a look – he is a bit more techno savvy than what I am.

G’day Cathy – Thanks for the comment. I thought I would get the blogging going first before looking at other options like twitter. Because I want to use this blog with the students at school, I decided I would moderate the comments and presently be the only person to do posts. Maybe once I get back to school, I will create a blog for the class and maybe a wiki as well but as I am not sure what filters apply at the moment, I am keeping it simply mine.

By: technotuesday

technotuesday — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:19:39 +0000

NOPE your comments are not moderated. If they are moderated, you “approve” whatever gets posted. You will get an email, telling you there is a comment that needs to be approved. This would eliminate the need to check for comments and then get disappointed when there are none. Also, even though Edublogs does not have a huge problem with spam (which is one of the reasons I like Edublogs)they do have spammers slip through. Moderation will keep them from accidentally getting posted. Unmoderated blogs post everything no questions asked. This could come back to bite in the long run.

By: technotuesday

technotuesday — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:08:45 +0000

I did a school library blog as my first experience with blogging, and over the summer a “newbie” nailed me for pouring so much of myself into something that was used very little by anyone else. She said it was obvious I did not win any students over or have a public following. It really hurt my feelings. I just contacted her and thanked her for such a motivating commentary (and it was on a ning too) but also i mentioned all the things working against me, like a filter at school and that students are ingrained to believe the web 2.0 tools are bad since they cannot be accessed at school. But I also pointed to my little successes in that blog (like I had three different authors respond to it, one sending me a whole packet of materials for use at school to promote her books–Pam Munoz Ryan). I also pointed her to my professional blog, TechnoTuesday, and suggested that she should research blogs before she blasts them. I did not have a following to begin with either. I really felt for a LONG time I was writing a personal diary instead of a blog. But I persisted. I at first would not even put a clustrmap on my blog b/c I was embarrassed by my lack of readership. But I did persist, and now I’m proud of the blog itself. One person told me a couple of ways to develop readers, and this may also help with comments. And that is to treat every post as a conversation. If someone comments on your post, you comment back, and from your own blog. Most people that subscribe to blogs also subscribe to the comments feed. Its makes it easier to check from new posts and follow threaded conversations. I would even suggest you subscribe to your own blog. (Are your comments moderated?) From the reader you can see the conversation, without having to log in and look at your blog. Another tip (and this one is probably more helpful) is to link to their blogs in your posts. The only reason I knew about this post today is because i got a “ping back” on my edublogs dashboard that led me here. Thanks for mentioning my blog. A lot of bloggers will visit to see why you linked to them and what you have to say, and a few (like me today) will even comment, or join in the conversation. So pinging others will help. Last, comment on other blogs that you like. Once a blogger gets familiar with you as a commenter, they begin seeing what you are all about. They may even give your blog a ping. So it helps to read a lot of different blogs and comment. Someone earlier recommended you have an about page. I think that is a great idea too. I initially remained very icognito (hence the name technotuesday as my username.) But now in hindsight, i see that if someone can visit my blog and read about me as a person, it also helps them see that I am just like them. (I am a public school teacher-librarian, btw.) Twitter helps too, BUT ONLY if you have an established network of friends in twitter. If you use twitter, and have the very important friend relationship, you can “twit” when you have posted new. Last, it appears your blog is very new. Don’t expect to have a huge following in the beginning. That will come as you earn respect in the blogosphere. It won’t happen over night. And even the established bloggers post things that do not get any comments. I have many posts that no one replied to. Just look at my most recent post. I found out that one of my professors from over a decade ago rads my blog–but she has NEVER commented. Okay, these are the things that I think help.
signing off with my REAL NAME:
Cathy Nelson
Myrtle Beach, SC

By: Susan Funk

Susan Funk — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:45:04 +0000

Commenting is hit and miss. Often I check my blog stats and find there have been many readers and no comments. Have no fear – people are reading. Perhaps that should be, be afraid – people are reading. My biggest surprise was that my readership tended to be far-flung and not close to home. I had hoped to generate some conversation at a local level and although I have heard via the grapevine from colleagues that I have some regular readers from the local scene but have never had a local comment. The closest it comes to local is 200 km away but still within my province.

Tried and true way to get comments – make comments. Just as you did on my blog and brought me here. Best wishes with the blogging. I’m a year and a half old now as a blogger. This season has been slow on my own blog as I moved from an educational leave to the classroom again. I’m finding it more difficult to blog my classroom than it was to blog the theory. I’m working on the public/private line and what makes a good post.

By: mrsolson

mrsolson — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:14:36 +0000

I’m here because YOU commented on MY blog, so you can see how that can help you make connections! In my experience if you practice what you preach and take the time to read and share on other blogs, more people will be inclined to do the same for you. I look forward to reading more of what you write! P.S. I really like this theme/presentation

Kate Olson
http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org

By: Ignatia/Inge de Waard

Ignatia/Inge de Waard — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:38:35 +0000

Dear Sue

Given the fact that you only just started, you are doing great! A picture of you would be nice, or something that is a little bit personal in appeal, that way people can relate.

What also helps to enhance comments is writing posts that give guidelines, how to’s or provide explicit opinions on things that are relevant to your profession. If you keep your posts open to interaction and truthfull to yourself, the comments will start coming in.

In addition to the first post: indeed, twitter is nice to get connected, but it will also take time to get a good professional network going. I saw the twitter of Sue Waters and that is what got me to your blog.

happy blogging from Belgium!

By: Mike Leishman

Mike Leishman — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:38:03 +0000

Well, you are doing much better than me.

I have been procrastinating about making my own personal edublog, but feel no point as “who cares what i say.”

Congratulations!

Mike