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It’s the great debate 
How often should you post anyway?
Share your thoughts here about what it is that makes a blog interesting and popular.
Is it quality over quantity? What topics should be written about?
Help us all to strike that perfect balance and build our readership!
mia, 
msz1011, 
dskalski and 14 others are discussing. 
Shawn Avery 7:31 pm on February 2, 2011 Permalink |
Hey Ronnie,
Another great challenge. Another great way to strike up discussion between educators. In keeping a class blog, I find that it’s important to get at least one new post up each week but no more than two. I have two main reasons in keeping a class blog. The first is to help keep the parents up to date with what we’re doing in class. The second, and most important, is to give students a place to continue discussions that we’ve started in class. I want to consistently give them something new that they can continue discussing from their own home but I don’t want to overwhelm them!
I feel that with a personal blog, this is much the same. Part of a blog is to inform but to give people a forum to discuss. You want to give people a chance to digest each post and then share their opinion in the comment section. I have a decent class blogroll that I follow. As far as personal blogs, I follow much fewer because I don’t want to become overwhelmed and the ones that I do follow I want to partake in the discussion occurring on each.
Some of my favorite class blogs I follow are Mrs. Yollis’ Class Blog, Mr. Salsich’s Class Blog, and Mr. Miller’s Class Blog. One of my favorite personal blogs that I think everyone should follow is Kathleen Morris’ Integrating Technology in the Primary Classroom.
Keep up the great work!
Shawn Avery
Plympton, MA
mshitzges 2:16 pm on March 6, 2011 Permalink |
I think you should post when you have something to share. Posting should not be something you have to do. Post at your leisure. I believe in quality over quantity. You should write about topics that you find interesting and that you think others would want to read about.
Joanne Selig 8:28 pm on February 2, 2011 Permalink |
I do not have a set limit for postings per week. It seems I have more to say some weeks than others. I may go two weeks without posting, then post three times in one week. As I gain more confidence with my blogging skills (thank you Teachers Challenge), I post more often. As my class blog develops, I see the advantage of posting student works often to build their confidence.
Carla J. 9:12 pm on February 5, 2011 Permalink |
I have a classroom blog and I never thought to add to my blogroll although I have many on a feed subscription. I added my favorite of favorites on my blogroll this week – they are also the ones that teach the same discipline that I do (Ms. Burton, Mr. Lundquist, Classroom 15). I post often because I have most of my classroom handoutsassignments on my webpage as well as a weekly Scholastic “Sticky Situation” for students to respond on. Thank you for the Teachers Challenge!
kshay 12:20 am on February 7, 2011 Permalink |
I think it depends. Some that put post up five days a week. Good. They have something to share. I would like to think at the very least every other week would be a start. i would like to try at least once a week. But if there is a reason to do more, than so be it. If a blogger doesn’t post for awhile, they may lose readers. Of course, if you let your followers know this, well that’s different.
I’m not certain about sticking a balance.
i am think some of the bloggers are quite talented with expressing themselves extremely well. There are some I wonder when do the sleep. The volume of things they are know about, reviewing, and sharing just is mind blowing.
My blog is more informational and reflective at the moment. I’m trying to get my cyber-legs under me yet. I am starting to think about a class blog. I keep finding myself writing about things that are nagging me, like cyber bullying, digital citizenship, job security, and so on. I want to be brave enough to share what I am doing with technology. My fear it will be not as spectacular as others. But, there maybe another teacher out there that is in the same place as myself with wanting to do more with technology in the classroom , but doesn’t know the perfect way to do so.It is also possible to find the experience teacher stumble on my blog and give me some great tips.
I have stated to follow people on Twitter. I think my phone does get the Tweets,but I can log on with the computer. I have personal Facebook page. I don’t know if I want those two to mix. I’m trying to visit other blogs and make comments. I do know I want my theme of my blog not look like a beginner and be more of my personality. I thought I could change things with it, but I can’t find it, yet. I’ve set up a profile at Classroom 2.0. I was brave enough to so my students(the second scariest critics) and they were amazed.
I guess I just don’t want to be on the outside listening through the window. I want to be in the room and eventually mingle.
Shawn Urban 1:35 am on February 8, 2011 Permalink |
Hi Ronnie and fellow edubloggers,
I have two blogs. I try to post once a week, though since I started this challenge I have not had time to post to my writing blog, Stefras’ Bridge.
My professional blog, Digital Substitute is developing nicely. I have established a schedule, a style and a plan to rotate the subjects of my posts to cover my three main areas of interest, Science, Math and English. So far, that works out great.
I think post quality is more important than post quanity. It is the quality and regularity (reliability) of your posts that will shape your reputation and authority. Frequent, poor posts will ruin you.
Try instead for regularity, some schedule. Try for one good post a week. Write about what interests you are what you wonder about. There is usually someone else who is interested in what you are interested in, so an audience will build if readers trust what you write and when you will write.
Do not write to please your audience. Your readers will know you are faking and drop you. Write what you are passionate about. Your readers will talk about you and you will gain more and more readers.
I addressed the questions regarding blog readership in the advanced activity of challenge eight in my post, Why are you social networking? The power of a PLN, though I decided to use tweeting to emphasize my point about the benefits of building, using and maintaining a PLN.
This KSYB Challenge has directed my analysis of my blogging and tweeting product and process and particularly in the image and multimedia activities offered tools and advice for adding images and other media to blogs. It has also forced me to strive on to blog more and better. Because of this I have a strong start to my blog. I can already see a great improvement in my blog and hope this improvement continues to increase as I blog more.
Thank you Sue, Sue, Anne, Ronnie and everyone else for the Challenge. I enjoyed it and learned a lot.
Keep blogging people. I look forward to reading your posts.
Cheers,
Shawn
Dorene Bates 8:27 am on February 8, 2011 Permalink |
I have a personal blog and a work blog. We are required to post at least once a week to our work blog. A lot of times I will do a cross post, so I always have the post on my personal blog as well. I do better with posting to my work blog (obviously); however, one of the reason I took this challenge was to get better at posting to my personal blog. I have more freedom with what I post on my personal blog. I hope to continue blogging. I have found that with every post, I get a little bit better. Thanks so much for the opportunity of taking this challenge.
Mr Riley 12:32 pm on February 8, 2011 Permalink |
Consistency to posting quality posts I agree is essential to being a quality blogger. My 2 examples are free technology for teachers and metsblog.com FT4T posts at least once a day with a quality well linked post. These posts are a wealth of knowledge however I just don’t have that type of time on hand. MetsBlog is more my speed, again quality posts however they are short and to the point. Some are links to other content and some are just quick thoughts or pieces on information. I am in the middle. However I don’t have the time to post what FT4T posts I need to be quick and to the point like MetsBlog. It will take me approximately an hour to create this reply. I jot things down a minuet here and a minuet there to create what you see before you. Blogger is great because I can save my posts as an email draft then when I am home email into blogger. This helps with time saving and because blogger works so well it helps me be more consistent with posting. When it comes to social networking this challenge has pushed me to actually do just that. I believe that is what makes each blog popular. Each of our styles represents us as writers and appeals to a certain readership. Bottom line is post. Just find what you as an individual are comfortable with and once you define your style you can post consistantly within thos limits.
Russell Ogden 1:04 am on February 9, 2011 Permalink |
The best answer I’ve heard is: “You will know when it’s time to post!” It could be a work imperative, it could be the need to respond to a situation, it could be the need to get something off your chest, or it could be that little voice that tells you its time to reflect and share.
My personal experience is that if I set myself to blog on by a set schedule then I find that my blogs can lack enthusiasm and energy. My best blogs have arisen at random times of desperation and inspiration!
Shawn Urban 3:35 am on February 9, 2011 Permalink |
I like that. It emphasizes that blogging, like any writing, should not be forced “just to blog.” And it places quality of posts, or passion for writing, as the better goal for blogging. After all you created your blog to express your passion, so why would you not blog mainly when you are passionate.
Nice point.
pkelley421 9:02 pm on February 21, 2011 Permalink |
can any one help me get started
Shawn Urban 1:22 am on February 22, 2011 Permalink |
Hi pkelley421,
What do you need help with?
Shawn
pkelley421 9:23 pm on February 22, 2011 Permalink |
Hi Shawn,
Thanks for your reply. I need help with navigating the pages and learning how this whole blogging thing work. It seems that once I post I cant find the post or know if anyone has responded. I found your post because I got an alert on my school email. In addition can you tell me how to post on my blog that I set up. The name is Nurse educator. In addition, I like your answer to Russell, because I feel that I am being forced to blog (in my spare time, LoL) in order to get complete credit for an online class that I am taking. All of this is just so new to me and not at all like posting to a comment made by a classmate.
Shawn Urban 10:43 pm on February 22, 2011 Permalink
Hi pkelley421,
I couldn’t find your blog in Google. What is its URL?
Shawn
Shawn Urban 3:16 am on February 28, 2011 Permalink
Hi pkelley421,
Ronnie and I think we found your blog, Nurse educator. (Thank you Ronnie.) Can you please confirm this is your post?
As I see it, you have yet to post to your blog, or the blog has yet to publish any post that you might have created.
I hope you saved a backup copy of any post you tried to publish on your computer. I actually write my posts on my computer, with embedded images and media, before publishing on the Web. This is a good habit to get into.
Let me know if I have your address right. Then we can begin with your first post and page.
In the meantime, you can begin with Beginner KSYB Challenge 1 and contact me through my contact page for guidance.
Ronnie, Anne, Kathleen and the two Sues, the facilitators of the Teacher Challenges, are great people to contact as well.
And most people taking that Challenges would also gladly lend a hand if asked.
So, you have many resources to help you learn how to blog.
Just take an hour or less each night to work on the Challenge and soon you will find yourself an expert.
Shawn
Paula Michalak 7:23 pm on February 26, 2011 Permalink |
My readership is centered around my students. I’m not terribly concerned if my blog doesn’t go beyond the social network of the school’s setting. I am more eager in getting students interested in learning how to use a new WEB 2.0 platform, and thusly blogging, then I am in getting someone from the other side of the world adding me to his or her blogroll.
My ultimate goal is to become paperfree in our assignments, and utilize Microsoft documents, Scribd and Blogger and/or Wallwisher to exchange ideas and share projects. It would be super cool if, as a final project, we could use Prezi. THAT would be amazing. But, I really have to take small steps in this endeavour, as I can see how this could also get frustrating and overwhelming.
As far as how many posts make a popular post? For me, that all depends on the students and the activity we are engaged in. I believe readers do want to have updated, current information. I don’t believe anyone is interested in static blogging. But, something more fluid and expansive.
As for specific posting numbers, that probably all depends on the reader.
Mrs. Michalak
Shawn Urban 4:45 pm on February 27, 2011 Permalink |
Hi Paula.
It is nice to place your students and their learning first. I think you will do well in that endeavor.
However, there are at least two advantages for your students’ learning to blogging, tweeting and skyping to a larger audience.
First, the big advantage to social media networking is networking, that is building a PLN of experts who can help you find and use powerful lesson and unit plans (and associated resources). Your PLN, or part of it, could even be your students’ PLN, a pool of experts who your students could interview and work with. Even after the initial WOW reaction of making such connections (here I am think the Jason Project), the PLN can be a school-life long or even life-long tool for your students’ educations, and your own.
Second, by creating a PLN beyond your classroom, your students’ parents, your school and other immediate associates, you model high-order research and learning techniques for your students. I can think of no greater gift you could give them than to teach them how to connect with experts and others who are willing to share with them.
Having said that, keeping a centralizing focus on your students’ education is a good way to keep your posts and tweets on topic.
At this point, I wish to plug a short tutorial, offered by George Couros, on how to create a teacher and student education portfolio out of a blog. Essentially, taking this step transforms your networking (class) blog into a powerful record of your students’ and your learning process. Given that predictions are being made that one’s social footprint will replace resumes in ten or so years, making the leap now will benefit your students and you later.
Perhaps teaching and learning will take on a new shape: that of individual teacher and student PD rather than fits-all-sizes class work.
Good luck on your social endeavors,
Shawn
shelmer 8:08 pm on March 6, 2011 Permalink |
As a newbee I still have a firm opinion that quality outweighs quantity. However I do think that all blogs whether a class blog or a personal blog still would need to have weekly positing at a minimum or you will lose interest or others will lose interest. I would tend to think that a class blog would have to have some minimum weekly requirements to make sure students are staying on track. Personally I plan on only posting once a week and only items/thoughts that I think are important.
chrischuck 1:38 pm on March 12, 2011 Permalink |
I think a blog should have a posting at least every two weeks if not sooner. I agree with Mr. Helmer (a great PE teacher and AD I might add) that regular followers of that blog will probably get bored and lose interest. Quality, like most things in life, should be considered over quantity. It is better to have interesting posts rather than boring dribble. Speaking of interesting blogs, I feel that they reach this goal when they motivate people to respond by giving subscribers a thought provoking subject to ponder.
LisaB 1:44 pm on March 12, 2011 Permalink |
For my classroom blog, I will post once per week to start. The students are rookie bloggers (and so am I). Once we are all more comfortable with the whole process, it may increase to 2-3 times per week. I think the material should be of high quality, otherwise what is the point of posting it? Right now I am posting items to get students interested in blogging, while praciticing basic skills.
dskalski 1:32 pm on March 13, 2011 Permalink |
While Twitter would be a good way to increase readership… for practicality reasons I will stick with personal use to the blogging for right now. I will continue goofing around making crazy changes until I am satisfied that I know what I am doing… right now I don’t:( It all really is an overwhelming process.
msz1011 8:30 am on March 14, 2011 Permalink |
I learned a lot about blogging through these activities. I think it is a great way to communicate if you take the time and find people with common education goals.
I think you should post when you feel like it and post when you have anything interesting about education or if you are on a personal blog, you should post anything appropriate and anything people would find interesting and want to read about.
I think colors and pictures make blogs interesting and fun to look at. I try and change the color of my font for each post. I also thought that embedding media added a very neat element to blogs. I have a voki and a post it wall that gives my blog a creative edge.
All the options helped me create a pretty cool blog! I still want to take more time and try to make it even better.
mia 6:58 pm on November 14, 2012 Permalink |
I feel that posts should be of what most educators could relate to. I think that posts should be current and relevant.