Saturday, January 22, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
We all love getting promoted. It is a boost to our egos, a pat on the back, and a kudos from those who see our work. So how do we promote our websites so we get that same back-patting response?
I have seen many say that content is the key. But you can have great content and still fail as a leader among the blogging community.
Darren Rowse, posting during the ever-famous wee hours of the morning, wrote a blog entitled "How I'd Promote My Blog If I Were Starting Out Again." Does he mention content? Why yes, yes he does. He says that you have to make a blog that creates anticipation. But anticipation might just keep your own head spinning like Carly Simon if you don't do something with that anticipation.
Ever hear the term "Preaching to the choir"? That's what Rowse says is the problem for many bloggers - they promote among those already converted to the word. Rowse says you've got to promote outside of your own blog. But how?, one might ask. Check out Rowse's blog for the answers: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008/03/11/how-id-promote-my-blog-if-i-were-starting-out-again/
I found out some stuff about Digg. If you like a blog you can "Digg" it and it the blog will go on the Digg list. Once you're in Digg you can find other blogs to follow. Here's a hint - make some amazing posts and have your friends Digg them - or Digg them yourself! - there's some advertisement right there :o}
My marketing plan - I got on Digg - that is a good place to start. I would follow other blogs, make posts and continue to make myself known among the blogging community. I have found that I am intrigued by others who look at things from viewpoints different from my own, so I would look for sites where I could post my own ideas that might intrigue others enough to want to read more of what I have to say.
If I wanted to I could also pay for advertising - but I don't have the money and I'm not interested in THAT big of a following - at least not right now :o}
Who knows - maybe one day I'll become a professional blogger and have to utilize my management plan so that I am only spending 3 hours a night on blogging :o}
Lights out.
I have seen many say that content is the key. But you can have great content and still fail as a leader among the blogging community.
Darren Rowse, posting during the ever-famous wee hours of the morning, wrote a blog entitled "How I'd Promote My Blog If I Were Starting Out Again." Does he mention content? Why yes, yes he does. He says that you have to make a blog that creates anticipation. But anticipation might just keep your own head spinning like Carly Simon if you don't do something with that anticipation.
Ever hear the term "Preaching to the choir"? That's what Rowse says is the problem for many bloggers - they promote among those already converted to the word. Rowse says you've got to promote outside of your own blog. But how?, one might ask. Check out Rowse's blog for the answers: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008/03/11/how-id-promote-my-blog-if-i-were-starting-out-again/
I found out some stuff about Digg. If you like a blog you can "Digg" it and it the blog will go on the Digg list. Once you're in Digg you can find other blogs to follow. Here's a hint - make some amazing posts and have your friends Digg them - or Digg them yourself! - there's some advertisement right there :o}
My marketing plan - I got on Digg - that is a good place to start. I would follow other blogs, make posts and continue to make myself known among the blogging community. I have found that I am intrigued by others who look at things from viewpoints different from my own, so I would look for sites where I could post my own ideas that might intrigue others enough to want to read more of what I have to say.
If I wanted to I could also pay for advertising - but I don't have the money and I'm not interested in THAT big of a following - at least not right now :o}
Who knows - maybe one day I'll become a professional blogger and have to utilize my management plan so that I am only spending 3 hours a night on blogging :o}
Lights out.
Decisions, Decisions...
I read an article by Ashish Mohta, a professional blogger, on 11 ways to manage your blog, located at http://www.technospot.net/blogs/time-management-tip-how-i-manage-work-and-blog/. It is by a blogger who has a full time day job and was having difficulties managing his time. Some of the suggestions were to block off a specific amount of time for blogging and don't go beyond that limit. Make a schedule for when to do things like checking your emails, updating your blogs and researching other sites. He also suggests that you post your blog first before reading other blogs so that your creativity remains intact, which I feel is a very valuable suggestion.
Ashish suggests keeping a diary to write down ideas so that you don't have to think about what you want to post when it is time to post. He says not to spend time on useless chatting because people don't have time for it. He also says to not respond to posts immediately but wait a day or so and see if you can respond to multiple posts with one post, instead of trying to answer every post with its own response.
These are excellent suggestions. The scary thing is that he says that these suggestions are how he keeps his blogging time down to 3 hours a night, except for Saturdays and Sundays. Hmm - I am afraid to ask how much time he spends on the weekends...
I don't have three hours a night to spend on blogging, so I feel that the way to make sure I don't do this is to do the things Ashish suggests and then limit my audience as best as I can to meet my classroom needs and my time allotment for blogging.
In the beginning, as I a open up my blog to others, I will have to limit what I have on my blog and what I require or offer my students. Initially, it will be a place for students to go with questions and to get information for assignments. As time progresses and I get a handle on my blog I can add blogging assignments to my curriculum. Again, I will have to monitor to see if I have overwhelmed myself with the beast I have created to know how I must modify.
As for peers and other persons, including professionals, my blogging will have to be kept within those time limits Ashish suggests so I don't lose myself in my computer. It is easy to get in over your head and then not know how to get out. So until I get a handle on blogging for my classroom I will have to keep my "outside interests" down to a minimum. Go Priorities!!! :o}
Ashish suggests keeping a diary to write down ideas so that you don't have to think about what you want to post when it is time to post. He says not to spend time on useless chatting because people don't have time for it. He also says to not respond to posts immediately but wait a day or so and see if you can respond to multiple posts with one post, instead of trying to answer every post with its own response.
These are excellent suggestions. The scary thing is that he says that these suggestions are how he keeps his blogging time down to 3 hours a night, except for Saturdays and Sundays. Hmm - I am afraid to ask how much time he spends on the weekends...
I don't have three hours a night to spend on blogging, so I feel that the way to make sure I don't do this is to do the things Ashish suggests and then limit my audience as best as I can to meet my classroom needs and my time allotment for blogging.
In the beginning, as I a open up my blog to others, I will have to limit what I have on my blog and what I require or offer my students. Initially, it will be a place for students to go with questions and to get information for assignments. As time progresses and I get a handle on my blog I can add blogging assignments to my curriculum. Again, I will have to monitor to see if I have overwhelmed myself with the beast I have created to know how I must modify.
As for peers and other persons, including professionals, my blogging will have to be kept within those time limits Ashish suggests so I don't lose myself in my computer. It is easy to get in over your head and then not know how to get out. So until I get a handle on blogging for my classroom I will have to keep my "outside interests" down to a minimum. Go Priorities!!! :o}
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Blogging for Life
As I've searched through blogs to get a feel for how other people use them, one theme keeps coming up - posting info and pictures to keep family and friends in the loop on how the family is growing. Filled with pictures, stories and other anecdotes, blogs have helped families stay in contact, something than has become ever more difficult as families are living further and further apart and lives become more and more busy.
I have seen travel blogs that help people live vicariously through the oh so lucky world travelers. I am aware of political blogs that provide information and awareness to those seeking enlightenment.
But I have recently become aware of music and art blogs, photo, music and audio blogs - things I had not considered before.
There are corporate blogs and personal blogs, community and religious blogs. Basically, you can find a blog for anything people want to talk about, discuss or learn about. An AMAZING gift for communication. SO much to look at - so little time... :o}
I have seen travel blogs that help people live vicariously through the oh so lucky world travelers. I am aware of political blogs that provide information and awareness to those seeking enlightenment.
But I have recently become aware of music and art blogs, photo, music and audio blogs - things I had not considered before.
There are corporate blogs and personal blogs, community and religious blogs. Basically, you can find a blog for anything people want to talk about, discuss or learn about. An AMAZING gift for communication. SO much to look at - so little time... :o}
Blog Inventory
I have a question for those with blog inventory experience. I have added a couple of links to my page that can go on and on for quite some time. Am I supposed to lists all those possibilities on my list or do I just write that I have a link to the Purdue Owl APA guide? You can click on a whole lot of links from that page...
Monday, January 10, 2011
Are We There Yet?????
I can't believe we have already been in class for a week! The time is flying by, which can sometimes be a great relief, but can also be a great stressor.
I am really interested in using blogging and I am excited about finding out more on how to use the site effectively and efficiently. I was excited to find the "Fish" application and can't resist feeding my "fish" every time I am on my site. I feel bad if I don't feed them! Wow - how cyber life can imitate real life sometimes!
D.S. mentioned how you can't see a person's expressions when you communicate online. That is so true. It can be a really bad thing and I have seen it cause many misunderstandings because one of the important aspects of communication is missing - visual. But sometimes that can be a very good thing - like when you think someone is being absolutely ridiculous and you need a moment to "compose" yourself before responding appropriately :o}
Another problem with online communication is that the filter that many people have in face-to-face communication is gone and people become emboldened to say things they would never say to someone's face. It can give courage in a good way, but it can also deaden the senses to propriety.
The last problem I want to mention is that as students and people in general become more proficient in online communication, they become less proficient in face-to-face talk. I fear that students will not know how to interview for jobs or communicate in the actual, non-virtual world in all the aspects that are necessary. Students may know how to communicate in one form, but not in another.
I am really interested in using blogging and I am excited about finding out more on how to use the site effectively and efficiently. I was excited to find the "Fish" application and can't resist feeding my "fish" every time I am on my site. I feel bad if I don't feed them! Wow - how cyber life can imitate real life sometimes!
D.S. mentioned how you can't see a person's expressions when you communicate online. That is so true. It can be a really bad thing and I have seen it cause many misunderstandings because one of the important aspects of communication is missing - visual. But sometimes that can be a very good thing - like when you think someone is being absolutely ridiculous and you need a moment to "compose" yourself before responding appropriately :o}
Another problem with online communication is that the filter that many people have in face-to-face communication is gone and people become emboldened to say things they would never say to someone's face. It can give courage in a good way, but it can also deaden the senses to propriety.
The last problem I want to mention is that as students and people in general become more proficient in online communication, they become less proficient in face-to-face talk. I fear that students will not know how to interview for jobs or communicate in the actual, non-virtual world in all the aspects that are necessary. Students may know how to communicate in one form, but not in another.
Friday, January 7, 2011
More Classroom Blogging
In doing research on blogging I have found several articles with the same basic concepts: Blogging provides opportunities for students to be more involved in their education and receive some extra assistance after everyone goes home from school.
In the article "Using Blogs in the Classroom: A new approach to teaching social studies with the internet", C. Frederick Risinger states "A classroom blog provides a way for students to view homework assignments, discuss important issues, ask questions and receive feedback from other students, and could provide parents with an opportunity to see what's going on in the classroom and even contribute their ideas and knowledge," definite values for classroom instruction.
Since resources can be invaluable, I am posting blogs I have found on ways to blog for the classroom:
33 Ways to use blogs in the classroom and in the educational setting - http://web20intheclassroom.blogspot.com/2008/10/ways-to-use-blogs-in-your-classroom-and.html
10 Great ways to use blogs in the classroom -
http://www.educationforjustice.org/blog/10-great-ways-use-blogs-classroom
100 Inspiring Ways to Use Social Media in the Classroom -
http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/05/100-inspiring-ways-to-use-social-media-in-the-classroom/
I hope this can be helpful to someone :o}
In the article "Using Blogs in the Classroom: A new approach to teaching social studies with the internet", C. Frederick Risinger states "A classroom blog provides a way for students to view homework assignments, discuss important issues, ask questions and receive feedback from other students, and could provide parents with an opportunity to see what's going on in the classroom and even contribute their ideas and knowledge," definite values for classroom instruction.
Since resources can be invaluable, I am posting blogs I have found on ways to blog for the classroom:
33 Ways to use blogs in the classroom and in the educational setting - http://web20intheclassroom.blogspot.com/2008/10/ways-to-use-blogs-in-your-classroom-and.html
10 Great ways to use blogs in the classroom -
http://www.educationforjustice.org/blog/10-great-ways-use-blogs-classroom
100 Inspiring Ways to Use Social Media in the Classroom -
http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/05/100-inspiring-ways-to-use-social-media-in-the-classroom/
I hope this can be helpful to someone :o}
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Classroom Blogging
Education Today printed and article in October 2006 entitled "Using Blogs to Integrate Technology in the Classroom" in which they discuss the benefits of blogging for the classroom. One of the great benefits of blogging is that it can be used at any time of the day or night, so people can post questions and comments when it is convenient for them - a great benefit as students and teachers are getting more and more busy with extracurricular activities and life in general.
The article mentions another great benefit - students who would not normally participate in a class discussion or question find it easier to participate and be involved. The use of technology is always an interest builder for students, and blogs allow students to be creative while employing the interests of computers and handheld communication.
According to the article, benefits of blogging include:
So blogging can provide a number of benefits, including encouraging students who might be difficult to motivate otherwise, and providing a forum for students who truly want to learn and understand to get information and knowledge even after the bell rings.
The article mentions another great benefit - students who would not normally participate in a class discussion or question find it easier to participate and be involved. The use of technology is always an interest builder for students, and blogs allow students to be creative while employing the interests of computers and handheld communication.
According to the article, benefits of blogging include:
- Highly motivating to students, especially those who otherwise might not become participants in classrooms.
- Excellent opportunities for students to read and write.
- Effective forums for collaboration and discussion.
- Powerful tools to enable scaffolded learning or mentoring to occur.
So blogging can provide a number of benefits, including encouraging students who might be difficult to motivate otherwise, and providing a forum for students who truly want to learn and understand to get information and knowledge even after the bell rings.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Differences
Our differences make life AMAZING and exciting, yet we have more things in common than most people think; commonalities that can bind us together for even more good in the world. Enjoy the journey with someone around you.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Welcome!
Welcome to Schnazzy Thoughtz!
Schnazzy Thoughtz is a place to post ideas and thoughts that impress you, make you laugh, cause you to take a moment and ponder on greater things, and that simply catch your attention. It's more than snazzy, it's schnazzy!
Thank you for playing :o}
Schnazzy Thoughtz is a place to post ideas and thoughts that impress you, make you laugh, cause you to take a moment and ponder on greater things, and that simply catch your attention. It's more than snazzy, it's schnazzy!
Thank you for playing :o}
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