Thing # 4

Blogs and related discussion boards create a community in any situation. The interaction between any group of people establishes a sense of communication and involvement from any blogging atmosphere. Whether it's an online class, a group of teachers working in the same grade-level, or just a group of friends catching up on their daily lives, blogging creates this "private" community of people that can share in their daily experiences. As I read the articles related to commenting etiquette on blogs, I've learned several important things about blogging that I wouldn't have thought of before. Some of which are just naturally occuring, and others aren't so much. The article that I enjoyed reading the most was "The Ten Commandments of Blog Commenting". http://www.brownbaron.com/blog/2007/07/17/the-ten-commandments-of-blog-commenting/ This article was short, sweet, and to the point about the hidden rules behind posting a comment to someone else's blog. Some of the points that I found interesting were:

1. Read before you write.
2. Be polite.

These points are necessary when writing a blog. Sometimes I catch myself in a hurry to read through 50 blogs, but it's a requirement for me to read each one to get the full context of what that person is trying to say. If I stopped halfway, or just skimmed over it, I might miss several important points.

Some of my classmates' blogs that I've commented on so far:

1. Miss Lorrie Anne Cooksey - I commented on her blog because we both chose the same challenging habit and we both have to play around with technology rather than read a book about it.

2. Sara Kim - I commented on her blog because I really liked what she did with her photo in Thing # 8 and I like her thoughts on storing photos and using Flickr for your classroom needs.

3. Lynette Miller - We both have limited experience with Web 2.0 tools but we both find them so interesting and applicable to use in our classroom experiences.

4. Crystal Rickard - I was inspired by her post about helping others with their technology issues and trying to make her school more technology friendly.

Other Blogs that I've Commented On :

1. Katie Couric : anchor, reporter,...shooter?!? (www.technorati.com) - I searched for Entertainement blogs and I found this one about Katie Couric shooting her interviews while reporting.

2. Angelina Jolie : The Doll (www.fanmade.com) - When I came across the featured photo of this blog on the FanMade homepage, I just had to click on it and read it. This doll amazes me at how much it looks like the real actress. Who will they make into a doll next?