Comments on: Woo hoo! We’re in the top 50 (sort of) http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/ Thoughts About Empowering Students with Technology Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:04:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Sylvia Martinez http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/comment-page-1/#comment-23876 Sylvia Martinez Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:39:12 +0000 http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/#comment-23876 If I'm reading the Technorati fine print correctly, it to implies that multiple links from the same blog do not increase your score. So it wouldn't make sense to interpret Scott's request to link back to his post as an attempt to manipulate his rank. And I'm not sure you meant him in your comment anyway. What I appreciate about Scott's post is that he clearly states what the rankings were based on. It's not his fault that many readers interpreted his post as his own personal "best of" list. There are big differences between rankings calculated by mechanical means, fake awards given to boost linkbacks (such as the Ed in 08 blog awards,) and "contests" to vote for blogs. Just like getting a "Who's Who" or a Publisher's Clearinghouse letter, it's up to everyone to consider the source. I wasn't kidding when I compared Technorati ranking to standardized tests. Imperfect, incomplete, biased -- it's not a bad analogy at all. There are smart kids who don't do well on tests, ways to game the system, and great blogs that aren't as high in the rankings as other blogs who've simply showed up for years and produced adequate work. If I’m reading the Technorati fine print correctly, it to implies that multiple links from the same blog do not increase your score. So it wouldn’t make sense to interpret Scott’s request to link back to his post as an attempt to manipulate his rank. And I’m not sure you meant him in your comment anyway.

What I appreciate about Scott’s post is that he clearly states what the rankings were based on. It’s not his fault that many readers interpreted his post as his own personal “best of” list.

There are big differences between rankings calculated by mechanical means, fake awards given to boost linkbacks (such as the Ed in 08 blog awards,) and “contests” to vote for blogs. Just like getting a “Who’s Who” or a Publisher’s Clearinghouse letter, it’s up to everyone to consider the source.

I wasn’t kidding when I compared Technorati ranking to standardized tests. Imperfect, incomplete, biased — it’s not a bad analogy at all. There are smart kids who don’t do well on tests, ways to game the system, and great blogs that aren’t as high in the rankings as other blogs who’ve simply showed up for years and produced adequate work.

]]> By: Scott McLeod http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/comment-page-1/#comment-23871 Scott McLeod Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:57:30 +0000 http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/#comment-23871 Stephen, please don't imply intent where none exists. My recommendation to Sylvia to link to this post from a Dangerously Irrelevant comment was not meant to 'manipulate' anyone's Technorati rankings but rather to help others find this post and to steer some traffic her way from my blog (which has a larger readership). That's all. Stephen, please don’t imply intent where none exists. My recommendation to Sylvia to link to this post from a Dangerously Irrelevant comment was not meant to ‘manipulate’ anyone’s Technorati rankings but rather to help others find this post and to steer some traffic her way from my blog (which has a larger readership). That’s all.

]]> By: Stephen Downes http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/comment-page-1/#comment-23870 Stephen Downes Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:39:22 +0000 http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/#comment-23870 Well stated. There is a danger in attributing any value to 'top 50' lists produced by means such as Technorati rankings. Not he least of which is that such rankings are manipulated by people saying "please be sure to link..." or some such thing. It's a ranking system that panders to the self-promotional (and even more so to those who support Technorati) and leaves quality work in the dust. Linking and connections are important - but people who try to accumulate links just for the sake of rankings demonstrate that they completely misunderstand the concept. Well stated. There is a danger in attributing any value to ‘top 50′ lists produced by means such as Technorati rankings. Not he least of which is that such rankings are manipulated by people saying “please be sure to link…” or some such thing. It’s a ranking system that panders to the self-promotional (and even more so to those who support Technorati) and leaves quality work in the dust. Linking and connections are important – but people who try to accumulate links just for the sake of rankings demonstrate that they completely misunderstand the concept.

]]> By: Gail Desler http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/comment-page-1/#comment-23722 Gail Desler Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:33:46 +0000 http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/#comment-23722 Sylvia, It was no surprise to see your blog listed in the top 50. I met you at the Eduboggers Pre-CUE Conference in Palm Springs, where you shared two thoughts that I, in turn, continue to share with other teachers (and administrators too): 1) if you really want to bring teachers on board with technology, go into their classrooms - with them observing - and model a lesson with their students and 2) blogging = action research. As I head over to the Bridging Differences blog, site unseen, I'm already pretty sure that you've given me a third gem. Hope to see you at NECC Gail Sylvia,

It was no surprise to see your blog listed in the top 50. I met you at the Eduboggers Pre-CUE Conference in Palm Springs, where you shared two thoughts that I, in turn, continue to share with other teachers (and administrators too): 1) if you really want to bring teachers on board with technology, go into their classrooms – with them observing – and model a lesson with their students and 2) blogging = action research. As I head over to the Bridging Differences blog, site unseen, I’m already pretty sure that you’ve given me a third gem.

Hope to see you at NECC
Gail

]]> By: Sylvia Martinez http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/comment-page-1/#comment-23701 Sylvia Martinez Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:40:06 +0000 http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/#comment-23701 Scott, I had a trackback back to your blog. I never know if those actually work or not... Chris, YES! I think you captured it exactly. David and Pat - you will not be sorry. Be sure to read their bios. Amazing women. Scott, I had a trackback back to your blog. I never know if those actually work or not…

Chris, YES! I think you captured it exactly.

David and Pat – you will not be sorry. Be sure to read their bios. Amazing women.

]]> By: Pat http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/comment-page-1/#comment-23696 Pat Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:20:28 +0000 http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/#comment-23696 Thanks for sharing the link to Bridging Differences. I look forward to reading it. I also enjoy reading your blog too! Thanks for sharing the link to Bridging Differences. I look forward to reading it. I also enjoy reading your blog too!

]]> By: David Jakes http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/comment-page-1/#comment-23695 David Jakes Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:00:24 +0000 http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/#comment-23695 As always, an insightful post. Thanks for pointing me to the Bridging Differences blog-I had missed that. As always, an insightful post. Thanks for pointing me to the Bridging Differences blog-I had missed that.

]]> By: Chris Lehmann http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/comment-page-1/#comment-23684 Chris Lehmann Sat, 07 Jun 2008 04:41:16 +0000 http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/#comment-23684 As someone who *has* linked to Bridging Differences, yeah... I agree. Ms. Meier and Ms. Ravich write such amazing pieces that half the time I don't "link" them because, well, what the HELL could I write that could add to that conversation? I just read them (also, like you, when I feel like I have time to really digest it) and consider myself lucky that we're able to sit on the sidelines and watch their discussion. If they aren't in the top ten of *read* blogs, that just speaks to how much work we have to do to raise the level of dialogue in our community. As someone who *has* linked to Bridging Differences, yeah… I agree.

Ms. Meier and Ms. Ravich write such amazing pieces that half the time I don’t “link” them because, well, what the HELL could I write that could add to that conversation? I just read them (also, like you, when I feel like I have time to really digest it) and consider myself lucky that we’re able to sit on the sidelines and watch their discussion.

If they aren’t in the top ten of *read* blogs, that just speaks to how much work we have to do to raise the level of dialogue in our community.

]]> By: Scott McLeod http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/comment-page-1/#comment-23681 Scott McLeod Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:55:49 +0000 http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2008/06/06/woo-hoo-were-in-the-top-50-sort-of/#comment-23681 Now THIS is an awesome post. Please be sure to link to it from a Dangerously Irrelevant comment so people follow the trail over here and read this? Well done (and, yes, I like Bridging Differences a lot too)! Now THIS is an awesome post. Please be sure to link to it from a Dangerously Irrelevant comment so people follow the trail over here and read this? Well done (and, yes, I like Bridging Differences a lot too)!

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