Get Ready, Get Set, GO!
On Your Mark… Get Ready…
For several months, I’ve stood on the edge of a giant pool of informational sharing…
Watching… waiting… wondering…
Who writes? Why do they write? How do they come up with what to write? And most important, who would want to listen to me!?!
Now, I’m good at thinking. I think thoughts all the time. What exactly is Web 2.0? How can I get my students to think more thoughts about what they are learning? If our district advocates a constructivist approach to learning, how can I enhance the rigor and authenticity of learning through technology?
Amazingly enough, as I peered into the blogosphere, I saw others with the same questions. There were teachers and students…family and friends…coworkers and neighbors… All thinkin’ the same thoughts. All sharing their nuggets of knowledge. But not me. I was still on the edge, holding on, scared of the leap into the unknown.
I needed a push. Mine came from my friend and collegue, Sean Nash. First came the nudge. The e-mail to all the instructional coaches in our district inviting everyone to visit my blog. This blog. The one that didn’t have a single post.
Next came the shove. An invitation to the same group to become a better blogger in 30 Days. This is based on a blog he reads (Oh, the webs we weave!). Now, in order to be a better blogger, I needed to be blogger in the first place!
So, Get Set…
I have officially hurtled myself off the precipice into an entire new world–swirling tummy and all.
Now, I officially invite all other nascent bloggers to join me. Take the step and write your first post. Join me as we discover what technology can do for us and for our students.
Artwork thanks:
Melancon, Adam. “Might as well jump…2bw” Adam Melancon’s Photostream. 07 August 2008. Flickr. 3 Nov 2008.http://www.flickr.com/photos/melancon/2742142387/
E’ole. “Splash” Eole’s photostream. 29 April 2007. Flickr. 3 Nov 2008.http://www.flickr.com/photos/eole/477332444/
Riverava. “Start1″ Riverava’s photostream. 7 Dec 2008. Flickr. 3 Nov 2008. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiszaiva/2092349343/
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Ha! I love how in the final image, the person is throwing up the PEACE sign. (or something)
Doesn’t Flickr (especially creative commons licensing) help to make blogging an amazingly collaborative endeavor? It feels good finding amazing artwork, and then helping to give the artist another forum or context for their work.
You did a wonderful job of attributing the images here. I think it is important for kids to see this. I also type a quick comment below the image with a link to my blog- essentially thanking them for sharing.
I also cant tell you how happy I am to see someone dive in with me. I will be very curious to hear your thoughts on blogging and its potential effects on pedagogy after doing this for a few weeks or months. I have a feeling I can predict a bit of what you will find.
So thank you for jumping into the water with me. You simply cannot understand the potential for moving kids without doing this. Anyone who has students engage in blogging without doing so themselves is asking for trouble in one form or another.
This post is so nicely done… far better than my first attempts. I am excited to have another colleague to share at this level and I look forward to reading about things educational through your “filter”.
Sean
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Thanks Sean,
You are always prodding, coaching… I admire that about you! Good point about adding a comment to the Flickr pics I found.
Now comes the hard part, finding the time to continue to process how blogging can aid in refining the art of teaching.
To those who blog, any suggestions?
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I am impressed!!!! Your blog is well put together and you are miles ahead of me. Congratulations on taking this first important step…getting started. I appreciate your honesty about your uncertainty where this blog will lead and your concern of finding the time to keep up. I also share the same concerns, but I guess you will never find the answers to these questions without taking the plunge. Nice Job!
November 4th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Congratulations!!! I am so proud of you! I have my account set up, but haven’t taken the leap yet! Wish me luck!
November 4th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Terri, great job on the blog! Thanks to you Sean for all you do for technology in the district! This is my first time blogging:) A year ago, I didn’t know what a blog was. I kept hearing about someone blogging something and I thought it must be a pretty bad crime… I’m interested in seeing how learning and technology evolve together. It has already gone past my mild imagination in the past 25 years or so. To think that we didn’t even really have computers in the everyday sense at that time and now you can do all that on a phone or a small ipod…
November 5th, 2008 at 11:27 am
@Karen and @Tammy,
Thanks for taking the time to read the blog. I look forward to also hearing what you wonderful coaches have to say!
@Beery,
I agree. Just this past year, I’ve realized I haven’t even seen the tip of the iceberg on how technology can enhance the educational experiences of our students! As time progresses, I share my thoughts on how blogging and other Web2.0 features can further drive our instruction in this middle school smack dab in the midwest.
There is so much out there for our students to explore!
November 6th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Terri,
Believe it or not…this is the first blog I have ever pursued and read. Your pictures and words summed up all of my feeling too.
I plan on learning from you. Maybe soon I will be a blogger.
Teresa
November 9th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Teresa,
You ALREADY ARE a blogger!!! Welcome!
November 12th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Terri, Okay, after seeing your blog, I decided to try it out. Matt wanted me to start with a group of teachers to reflect on the DRA2 test analysis through a blog. So…it’s out there! Not sure if this is the appropriate way to use a blog or if there is an appropriate way, but here I go. A tough leap for me, but at least it’s a start. Looking at your blog, I definitely need some lessons. Your blog looks amazing and you have comments! Good for you! Can’t wait to follow your thoughts!
Shelley
November 12th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Shelley,
The one thing I’m learning, is that there is definitely an infinitely number of ways to blog. I think it has to do with what you want to accomplish. My purpose was to delve more deeply into educational issues that I keep rolling around in my head. That is certainly not the only, or necessarily the best way to blog. And, I’m finding that the comments can be more valuable than the post itself! Thanks for commenting!