Day 3… the Day of Blog Reckoning
The blog I decided to look at with a critical eye today is “elementary teacher blog” (capitals left out to expose the guilty).
I judged it according to the 4-section rubric given to us, as well as some notes based on the criteria that went with today’s reading / viewing.
Content
I give it a four, as much as I don’t want to, because the sub-header has a good description of the site, as well as a touch of humour. As well, everything on the site matches the overall subject area.
Design
I give it a two. The header is boring, as is the font in it (complete with no capitals… and they’re a teacher!). The pictures added, though relevant, are mostly bland. The template has not been tweaked or customized at all, as far as I can tell. There is no custom favicon to add to its identity. There is not much to interact with on the site.
Interest
This one is tricky. What articles there are are relevant, but there are so few of them! There have only been 20 posts in the last six years!! I am very surprised at how many people have chosen to follow this blog through Google Friend Connect. I wonder how long ago they signed up? Overall, I have to give it a two. There is some interesting content, but not enough of it to keep me coming back. Maybe I’ll check it every February 29th… shouldn’t miss much.
Writing Quality
I give it a three.
What’s there is thoughtful, and has a sense of humour that I appreciate, especially being a teacher. The quality isn’t the best I have read, but it’s better than average.
This yields an overall score of 11/16, or 69%.
Other Related Notes:
– clear and readable font / colour choices
– easy to navigate
– not very unique, from content to look
– only personality / humour would bring me back
– are those their real students in those cropped photos? I wonder what their parents would think of that?
Posted in: Week 07: Blogs
Juliana 5:54 pm on October 19, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
You touched on an issue that we have seen in many blogs…many have been started but not kept up or they don’t have much of a following. We are often told that blogs improve intereaction and discussion, but is this really true? Are they hard to manage and that is why they are discontinued? Or are there other issues?
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Juliana.
Karen Jones 6:07 pm on October 19, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think it comes down to the author’s original purpose, as to whether a blog stands the test of time, Juliana. I know my first blog lies gathering digital dust because I used it to prepare for MET by researching e-portfolios and collections of digital tools. It wasn’t really a daily journal kind of blog. As well, quality of the blog is important, as Stephen has attested. Perhaps the most dynamic blogs are pertinent and serve a purpose for a larger public. I know I like blogs that review things that I am intending on purchasing 😉 Anyone have any comments on buying TV’s?
Deb Kim 12:15 pm on October 20, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Juliana,
You raised a good point.
I can answer your question: “Are they hard to manage and that is why they are discontinued?”
I don’t know what others use their blogs for, but I use my blog to give students what I’ll be doing in each class and updates on their quizzes/tests. That means, my blog runs for 1 year until the course is over. As the purpose of my blogs is for the course use only, they are discontinued once the course is finished.
Deb
mcquaid 1:27 pm on October 20, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
“…blogs improve intereaction and discussion, but is this really true?”
I think blogs can enable interaction and discussion for people that are separated by time and space. As far as improve, I don’t think that’s necessarily true. I would retool what you said to be, “Blogs improve WITH interaction and discussion.” Feedback and comments can motivate a blogger and keep them going. Without this show of interest, a blogger can feel dejected or a little bored… as if their words and thoughts aren’t as important or interesting as they thought they were or once were.
Juliana 9:51 pm on October 20, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thank you for your response. More and more I am getting the sense that blogging does not equal increase in classroom interactions as was previously thought.
Which brings me to my next question…what can be changed about blogs to improve interaction? Is there anything that can be changed to the platform itself to improve interaction or is it up to the teacher to try and devise ways to improve interaction?
Juliana.