Being a new writer for DMXzone, <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle> , I'd like seeing ratings, and feedback on articles/tutorials written.

In general, <b>I'd like to see more frequent ratings for all Tutorials, FAQ's, Links, Extensions, Premium Articles</b> that you all read. I notice some articles has less than 10 ratings and over 1,000 readers! If you read, what did you think?! Getting feedback on (our) content helps everyone who comes to DMXzone, keeping this site with fresh and popular content that people <i>want</i> to read/learn.

<img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>



Edited by - ccharlton on 23 Jan 2005 21:14:40

BTW, my tutorials/article listings can be found on my member page: www.dmxzone.com/myZone.asp?userid=1895 <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle> }<img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

omg what a blatant plug <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

regards
Dave

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>omg what a blatant plug <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle><hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Yes and no, <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle> I would like to see more things rated in general. <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Full marks for the plug Chris!
I think forum posts could also benefit from ratings, as you say this will help people find quality answers and information as rated by their peers.
But I dunno how to encourage ratings, does the rating system need to be made more prominent (something for the revamp?) or force people to rate by refusing to let them read more than 2 articles without rating (bit draconian I think)...

Ideas on a postcard to George@dmxzone

Live the life you love
Love the life you live

Simon

[DWMX 2004]|[SQL]|[ASP/VBScript]|[XP-Pro]

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>...I think forum posts could also benefit from ratings, as you say this will help people find quality answers and information as rated by their peers.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Good idea, not sure Snitz even has anything close to that.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>...But I dunno how to encourage ratings...<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
First, rate things yourself and you're doing your part. <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>...does the rating system need to be made more prominent (something for the revamp?) or force people to rate by refusing to let them read more than 2 articles without rating (bit draconian I think)...<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Hmm, now that you mention it, the rating radiogroup (1 low-5 high) is at the bottom, above the authors mini-bio, so maybe there may need to move it to a place more fitting (under the current rating, or in the properties/info box).

I'll sign the postcard too. <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
or force people to rate by refusing to let them read more than 2 articles without rating (bit draconian I think)...
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

i like that idea myself, hard but fair in my opinion.

regards
Dave

Do you think these ideas will make it any further than this forum / is there an 'official' route to getting things done?
How easy would it be to promote Chris's idea on the home page or in the newsletter?

The other thing to consider, I guess, is how to prevent against arbitrary ratings.
How many people will rate something without studying it first i.e. giving a rubbish article a 5 because they didn't read it properly and realise that its full of errors and visa versa; so giving a good article a low rating because they're in a bad mood or couldn't understand what's being said.

If it could be tied into users own rating that might compensate things?
So a forum mod's vote might count as 20 votes but someone who's just being a prat gets just 1 vote
I'm just thinking as I type....

Live the life you love
Love the life you live

Simon

[DWMX 2004]|[SQL]|[ASP/VBScript]|[XP-Pro]

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Do you think these ideas will make it any further than this forum / is there an 'official' route to getting things done?
How easy would it be to promote Chris's idea on the home page or in the newsletter?<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
I'll email management and link to this forum. There might be a rating overhaul idea in the works for DMXzone 3.0(?), reguardless they'll see there is an interest to take advantage of comunicating to members about rating content all across the site.

We are busy with a new rating system, after deliberating with Chris about it we want to ask 3 questions for a more extensive rating. Also promote the rating in a newsletter and on the sidebars of the site. Here are a couple of ideas for more extensive rating questions;

- How do you rate the quality of the writer?
- Did/does the article meet up to your expectations?
- What do you think of the layout and graphics of the article?
- Is the article clear and fun to read?

Suggestions are more than welcome!

Hi Frank,

Is it worth making a Poll and putting it on the home page or on the 1st page in the forums so that the users are aware that you're looking for feedback?
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Here are a couple of ideas for more extensive rating questions;

- How do you rate the quality of the writer?
- Did/does the article meet up to your expectations?
- What do you think of the layout and graphics of the article?
- Is the article clear and fun to read? <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
How are you thinking of incorporating these? I wouldn't want to rate something on lots of different criteria personally.
My suggestion would be to make some people's votes count for more as in my earlier post here - though some helpful hints nearby might make people think about things before they rate.

Live the life you love
Love the life you live

Simon

Edited by - ganseki on 26 Jan 2005 12:54:34

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>...I wouldn't want to rate something on lots of different criteria personally. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Hmm, good comment. Some days I wouldn't mind clicking radio buttons on 3 questions, but other days I'm rushing or not "up for it" and may just want to give an overall rating #. Is that your thought Simon?

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I wouldn't want to rate something on lots of different criteria personally <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
What I had in mind here was not being confronted with a complex questionnaire with multiple choice and a 6,000 word essay at the end. Wading through the 4 questions that Frank suggested after a hard day at work wouldn't appeal.

Sometimes an article speaks to me and in a moment of divine comprehension everything is clear... for such an article, a specially outstanding and "Awesome article" I think there should be some means of awarding a mark <b>higher</b> than a 5 - letting everyone know this article ROCKS you must read it! I'd publish the article and hand deliver it to everyone in England... or answer a few extra questions (whichever is easiest)

Likewise sometimes I can read an article and it makes no sense whatsoever, maybe I'm tired or my eyes have permanently crossed for the evening or the little one is demanding attention... whatever I don't feel like I can actually rate the article at that time. So I think maybe a category of "UnRated" to show that I've read it, but for some reason or other I haven't rated it at all - Good or Bad.

Live the life you love
Love the life you live

Simon

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>So I think maybe a category of "UnRated" to show that I've read it, but for some reason or other I haven't rated it at all - Good or Bad.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
In MyDMXzone - that would be great!

Amazon/Ebay have a section so you see what you didn't rate/feedback after a transaction, people rely on those feedback/ratings to trust someone to buy from, maybe something can be said for trusted content. <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Amazon/Ebay have a section so you see what you didn't rate/feedback after a transaction <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Ladies and Gentlemen I think we have a winner! That's a great idea
I was just thinking of having another option (1-5 and then UnRated) to show that my vote has been cast but that I'm not qualified to award it marks.


Live the life you love
Love the life you live

Simon

Interesting idea indeed, but how many items will this produce and do people look in their myzone alot?

Check the logs they'll tell you ?

Live the life you love
Love the life you live

Simon

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>...how many items will this produce and do people look in their myzone alot?<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
I remember DMXzone asking a similar questions, basically findind out if they use DMXzone for the lastest updates or the home page.

I'm sure they know if myDMXzone's are used frequently.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I notice some articles has less than 10 ratings and over 1,000 readers <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
I'm guessing that each time a page is requested it counts that as a reader, so if I were to read and re-read a page that would artificially
increase the number of readers?
Basically I've just done a quick search here on how to set up a readers poll - because I'd like to know how people feel about certifications
and how useful they are to them in getting work etc www.dmxzone.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=30649&FORUM_ID=16&CAT_ID=1&Topic_Title=Certified+Dreamweaver+MX+2004+Developer&Forum_Title=Coffee+%26+Tea+TalkZone

As I did this I flicked into a number of FAQ's and realised they were not what I was looking for so left without rating the article. That
<i>probably</i> goes a long way to explaining the discrepancy between numbers of ratings and volume of readers... But I dont have any clever
suggestions on what could be done about that. Apart from logging each 'reading' on request of the final page of the article (but that'll
only work for multipage documents!)

Live the life you love
Love the life you live

Simon
<i>edited so the content fits the page and you don't have to scroll to see what I've written....</i>

Edited by - ganseki on 28 Jan 2005 17:07:43

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>...<i>edited so the content fits the page and you don't have to scroll to see what I've written....</i><hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Ya, you can even loose the <i>Topic_Title</i> var/value to shorten.

As for above...I agree, I bail if something is not an FAQ or is incomprehensible. Lately I have been doing minor re-arranging in the FAQ/Tutorial Request sections...basically moving things to their right place. <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle> <i>... minus the apron.</i>