photo © 2009 Frits Ahlefeldt-Laurvig | more info (via: Wylio)Without a doubt every blogger that has a public blog would like people to visit and read their blog, and as well perhaps engage in dialogue through comments. As others doing the teacher challenge have pointed out, there may be readers even though they don't leave comments. I notice some of the big blogs don't actually have many commenting, although readership is in the thousands. I think of Richard Byrne's blog as an example, I read most of his posts and occasionally feel motivated to leave a comment. So readers and commenters may form two different groups. It is for each blogger to make their choice and then develop as best they can the kind of reader they would like.
As a teacher beginning out on developing my teacher blog I think I would like to have readers that leave a comment. At least some of the time. Why? It's affirming and supportive, encourages me to keep going and also a comment may lead me off on a path I have not thought about. I recognise that as teachers we are very busy, and reading other teacher blogs at times will not be a high priority. However I think its part of being part of a learning community, and I intend in 2011 to be active in this. Like Britt Gow, I think it is a PLN that I want to be part of.
The following are tips for myself or for you the reader if you find them helpful.
# Read and comment on other teacher blogs.
# Post consistently, and persist.
# Make the effort to share with others. Write a post about it.
# Be yourself. While you may like to have readers it is of little use to twist yourself into somebody you are not just to impress them.
# Join networks such as Twitter.
#Post on Facebook. While I use this mainly for family I do have teacher friends!
# Reply to the comments that you receive.
# Network in person. Go to an IT conference! I now have Ulearn11 in Christchurch, New Zealand as a possible conference. Thank you to Britt Gow for making me think about this, through the post she wrote.
To conclude I would like to add in this slideshare that I viewed. It was Richard Byrne who posted about it on his blog and I read it and loved it. It is by Sacha Chua. I have added her to my Reader. I love this slideshare because I am an introvert and it is in relation to the final tip!
P.S I am going back to read all her slideshares. I had never heard of her. She does fabulous work.
Image: 'web2.0 party'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32066106@N06/3431508742
