“A comment a day encourages bloggers to have their say!” This was a quote by one of my online colleagues on twitter three years ago. Unfortunately, I have misplaced who said this and cannot attribute the quote.

1. Are our students learning by conversations on facebook, forums, twitter, blogs and other networking sites?
2. Does effective communication through conversations empower learning?
3. Do comments on blogs have any impact?

My answer would be:- Yes, Yes, and Yes! What would be your answer?

Comments on student blogs are one of the highest motivational factors and drivers that I have witnessed in my classroom over many, many years of teaching! I can still remember the excitement, when our classroom blog received its first comment. Someone was actually reading our post at  Our Backyard

It read:- Your “backyard” is beautiful! Thank you for sharing it with the world. (Lori, California)

and the comment was from overseas!!

However, time needs to be spent learning about comments, considering eg:-

1. What makes a good comment?
2. How can comments keep conversations going?
3. How can blogging be empowered  using conversations via comments?

Here are your challenges:-

1. Write a post on one of the following:-

• 10 things you need to know about blog comments.
• The power of comments – (Discuss and illustrate, if possible, with real examples from your classroom or personal blog.)
• 5  ways to get more comments on blogs
• Switch off blog commenting! Discuss potential impact(s).

2. Share your blog post in a comment to this post.

3. Check out the beginner’s challenge

4. Find another two blogs in this challenge and comment back on their post.

5. Become involved in the discussion question for this challenge.

Advanced Challenge

1. Put together a presentation with some sample comments both good and bad, for students to assess and discuss. Add to a post and share or
2. Create a cartoon strip to show an aspect of commenting on blogs.