WARNING! This website is no longer actively maintained. It is an archive of 2 years work by Doug Belshaw who now blogs at dougbelshaw.com...
After listing 8 things that irritate me with edublogs, it’s time I commented on the things that I like about the edublogs I read. For the most part, it’s the inverse of the things listed in that previous post, but there are a few more things I (and probably others) appreciate… 
Obviously, as these are the things I value, you’ll hopefully see evidence of these on this blog. It’s far from perfect, though!
- Responding promptly to comments: if I’ve taken the time to comment on a blog post, it would be nice to receive a response.
- Linking to websites mentioned/things cited: I shouldn’t have to trawl the Internet to find what you’re talking about!
- Having an aesthetically pleasing layout: I try to read most posts that I find relevant or interesting on the author’s blog as they intended it to be. It’s nice when the author has put some thought into layout, typeface, etc.
- A search facility that works: I can remember it’s on a certain blog, but can’t remember what the post was called. Your search facility should help me find it.
- Building a sense of community: there’s many and various ways to do this, mainly through comments, but also through Clustr maps, vistor statistics, etc. Overkill isn’t good, but a tasteful amount makes you feel part of something…
- A willingness to change one’s mind: dogmatic and unreasoned defence of one’s beliefs, values or opinions does not sit well with me. I like it when people are open to constructive criticism.
- Having something to say: sometimes it’s fine to just regurgitate what has been said elsewhere in order to inform your audience. Doing it all the time or just channeling other people’s opinions/the zeitgeist is a bit of a turn-off.
- Being contactable: it might be a contact form, it might be Twitter - there’s various ways, but I like it when the author of an edublog is reachable other than through the comments section.
What do you like about the edublogs you read? This is the post in which comments should be positive and constructive - if you’ve got something negative to say, something you don’t like, then put it in the comments section here.
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These are great. I love them too.
I'm still trying to figure out how to make Twitter personally relevant.
I like this post a lot better than the negative one, so I being positive must be something I like.
1 and 2 are essential 3 is in the eye of the beholder.
My favourites are posts that take an idea and give it a twist,showing a piece of technology and giving it classroom twist. Or ones give my brain a twist.
Thanks 'Mrs Whatsit' and John. I can't help, despite most people claiming to like 'positive' posts, that this will receive less comments than the previous…
That might be because you have covered most of the bases.
On the post 'pupil progress/report card' parents nights if my reports were wel lwritten I should get very few parents
Hi. I've just discovered your blog unexpectedly and I look forward to reading you. I tend to comment where I have disagreement rather than where I agree. But, since you mention that people tend toward the negative rather than the positive, I'll run against my own grain and comment here.
I responded to both of your entries (positive and negative) on my own blog. I hope you'll read them and give feedback if you want to.
But, just as an aside… It never occurred to me that I should respond when someone comments on my blog. Thank you for that. I'm going to definitely make it a practice.
Also, I agree with #6 especially.
Uhmm, I just glanced at the last post, I really read this one, so I must in the minority.Since you last post was 'tagged' to Ed Tech Talk, I'm tagging this one too to try to generate more comments.
I agree with almost everything that's been said by you and the commenters. My addition to this thoughtful discussion, I like a really well written post that makes me think. I don't know if "voice" is something you can teach?
Oh, note to Audrey, YES you should always try to respond to comments on a blog. Really, commenters LOVE it, it's what makes it a conversation, rather than a letters to the editor page?
Hey doug,
I think these comments are a little optimistic and positive… can't you post a more hard hitting list than this!?!
Thanks for being in my bloggosphere Doug. I'm sure you realize this… but as you said in your last post, this is your &$%^ blog, and you have no responsibility to me! I just like reading it.
cheers.
Seconding John's comment - it's one thing to say, "hey, look at this cool new tool", and quite another to say, "here are some suggestions for how it could be implemented - and look here, here, and here for some examples" (of course, these can also come from the comments).
Mainly, I just like getting inside other teachers' heads and seeing what they're trying and doing. Connecting with other teachers on "edublogs" is great because I know I can broach some technological topics and people will at least have an idea of what I'm talking about. I can throw ideas out there and get some helpful feedback. Even if I don't agree with what other folks say, it's helpful for me in terms of framing my own thoughts and practice.
It's really more fun to gripe, isn't it?
I, too, like to read through comments that give various points of view on a blog post. Sometimes, if it's on my own blog, the comments give me a chance to expand on my original post or to rethink something. But there are also comments that I have decided I should simply ignore for a variety of reasons. I like it when the commentors respond to each other because then it feels like a discussion. I'll go along with Dave on this point.
@Dave: It's good to know you read it. I really respect the work you and Jeff do over at EdTechTalk
@Damian: That's exactly what I'm aiming for - here and over at edtechroundup.com. I'm trying to show how Web 2.0 tools, etc. can be used effectively in the classroom.
@Doug: I'd never really thought about adding to my post as a result of comments, so thanks for that Doug. I'll see what I can do in future…