Sliced Bread

Well ’scuse my newbieness, but these Eddies are now half a decade old and no one told me …. ppiff I say.

Anyway here are my 2 bobs worth for the 2008 edublog awards

Best class blog 2MGems To Mrs M and her 2M Gems, you guys rock. Love your site, love to see kids learning and loving it while they do. As Al Upton requested (16/11/08) and edublogs obliged, THIS category is THE most important Eddie. Well said Al. Mrs M must be behind their website quote, “nearly all classes in the school are blogging” How good is that? Don’t worry about the current traffic jam kids, Uncle Kevin has promised to fix it.

Best individual blog  Watershed  John Larkins work is inspirational. Generous in his shared resources, deep thinking in his eclectic well travelled narratives and my students have deserted my rough and ready wiki to flock to his student friendly links. Top site, easily. Plus he’s a history nut like me.

Most influential blog post My f*#!%ing goosebump story Tomaz Lasic’s honesty is to be applauded, loudly. I just loved this post and need to meet the said Perth beermeister to confirm my suspicians. Hope he’s not a Corona and lemon sucker. 70:20:10 is another TL gem, he dug up for me. Ta WA Moodle Boy.

Best educational tech support blog Tim’s Blog de Blog  Tim and his team work wonders at TaLe and here he shares his personal insights from the other side of the fence. Thought provoking, topical, stops the echo chamber somewhat and adds perspective when I get cheesed off. Like it, lots.

Best teacher blog  Darcy’s Blog is what DET NSW needs installed in every school. If we did, we would have no issue with vaulting the yawning digital chasm that is rapidly emerging. Darcy “gets it”, big time. Thanks for your wonderful insights Darcy, even if you don’t imbide the smell of burning methanol in the morning, it takes all comers to make the nuthouse crackle.

Well thats my bit, drum roll please…… and the winners are …. learners, lets hope.

picture credit: Creating Passionate Users

Q: How have blogs helped you in teaching English?

Jo McLeay, head of English at Mater Christi College, shares her blogging experiences in Australian Teacher Magazine.

I had been reading other teachers’ blogs for a while and found them interesting and informative. Before I knew it, I was learning more about my profession, finding resources, engaging in discussion and renewing my passion for teaching and learning.

Student comments about blogging.

“.. I can read what people say, and I can take some of the language that they use and put it in to my vocabulary.”
Another student says: “I enjoy blogging for the fun — not the writing or language. But I guess it does help me understand writing and language.”
Another student, Larissa, adds: “Blogging helps me to be more careful in the way I write things and my spelling because other people will be reading [what] I write.”

I also think its important when Jo says

At least as important is the reading and commenting on the ideas of others. I believe in making connections and having conversations about the important issues in the lives of young people.

For learners unfamiliar with blogging or if you need ideas on the way in which students can learn through blogging these are just a few ideas from experienced teachers and students.

Have you blogged in your classroom and what are your experiences? Share your story.

Are there any reasons why teachers, school leaders and administrators shouldn’t engage in the following?

• freely share ideas on 21st century learning
• clarify their educational beliefs and values
• mentor contemporary literacies for students, parents and colleagues
• develop more fantastic classroom resources
• engage in deeper professional research and dialogue
• showcase student achievement at all levels
• expand their lifelong learning and
• build stronger specific support networks?

The ”neverwills” wont have time, technophobes remain scared, near retirees just want to hang on and traditional gatekeepers and blockers will do what they’ve always done.

But of course not all educational professionals must blog to achieve the above outcomes, what an absolute absurdity.

Of course there are other ways to achieve these things. Traditional methods even.

The above list is one reflection list for learners. But there are different ways for educators to reflect, learn, connect and stay up to date. Blogging is only one of those methods. Blogging just happens to be easier for me. Its a personal choice.

It saves my time is numero uno reason. I can also reflect easily on how my thoughts are developing and changing on what is important to me. The ability to edit, reshape, change and contribute are all blogging qualities i like. The implicit deep learning and well founded research also appeal. 

Ultimately as long as professional growth and QTL results for teachers, it matters nought how it is achieved. Fantastic teachers who may never blog will continue to learn in the manner that suits them.

I’m sure non bloggers will also recognise and accept the choice of others who do engage with 21st century skills.

Students are or will be using these broader digital skills to learn as a matter of choice. The digital skill set behind social networking is what is driving the rise, users like what they offer and there is incredibly valuable concurrent learning. 

Why not integrate and teach these skills at school so the quality and mastery of the same social skill set is enhanced?

so if the argument is every learning professional should be writing, reflecting, creating meaning with others, then I’ll agree with you.

But every one should be blogging?…. Nah. I’ll dare to predict that blog usage will continue to climb well into the stratosphere as a percentage of humans on the planet, … but most still won’t be “bloggers.”