"You have to think that you can't quit." -Abe Wintraub, 90, marathoner

Blogging

This has been one of the most difficult posts to write because I’m sitting here, one confused and muddled mess. Last week’s ELearning discussion about blogging voice, Richardson’s Chapter 9 words on what everything means, our new ELearning assessment of our blogging journey and my own research into the topic of blogging have all morphed into one big morass of information, reflections and contemplation. When I reread my almost finished blog post I realized that the trends of technology and how blogging fits into this grand scheme seemed a topic which demanded more introspection and was therefore better suited the next blog entry of “What’s Next” . So I’ve abandoned all my work (don’t panic it will be recycled somehow) and am starting once again.

Somewhere in my research about blogging, I came across the comment that one should just write quickly and let your true voice speak. Here goes…

When I began blogging I was totally baffled by this process. Why our instructor would want us to post our personal reflections on the internet for everyone to read was a terrifying thought to me. It ranked right up there with nude sunbathing. Sorry for that image, but I really did a lot of hyperventilating over putting my first words out there for others to read. First only my instructor answered and then others responded and validated my words. Then I found myself using my blog as a repository of important links and a record of my learning to revisit. As the weeks have gone by and my comfort level with blogging has developed, I’ve now gotten to the point where I’m thinking that my URL of “Internetangst” no longer describes my feelings towards this Web 2.0 tool. I imagine that others reading my words may have had similar experiences when first introduced to blogging. Am I right?

Why blog?

Time to revisit Chapter 2 of Richardson’s Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, the impetus for this whole adventure. It’s interesting that Richardson listed blogs as the first of his powerful web tools. It certainly is one of the easiest tools to use and when I look back from today’s vantage point, setting it up was really not difficult at all, it was more the anxiety of breaking down my own deeply-seated fear of technology. Blogs can be a repository of information, a journal record of reflection or instruction or a way of showcasing knowledge for others to easily access. Richardson calls them websites and considers them very much a “collaborative space”. In my other courses, colleagues have effectively used blogs as a way to share visual seminars with others. I also find myself considering them another source of information and insight when I research. However, I find blogs to be more of a personally directed medium, rather than a wiki that can be developed into a more collaboratively constructed site(see below for more on blogs vs. wikis). I realize that the invitation to dialogue with others is very much a part of why blogging is gaining popularity. The social aspect of sharing with others and collaborating ideas is a big draw. However, a blog post can also be a personal reflection and therefore its writer exercises a certain amount of creative control. In any case, blogs are an effective Web 2.0 tool, which truly speak to the Read/Write nature of 2.0, can be used by anyone, for any topic. Because of their versatility, I agree with Richardson's decision that they deserve first place recognition. Is there a tool which offers as many possibilities?

Blog Potentials

Richardson also describes the potential of weblogs in schools and this is something that I have certainly thought a lot about but haven’t really seriously explored in the practical sense. I would very much like to use a blog as a teaching tool but know that I need to look at even more examples, start small with one class and gain further confidence in this area before going full tilt on introducing this tool to my staff. One idea I have going through my mind is a project on Revolutions one of our high school teachers does. Right now we are providing photocopies of the information on various countries and the history of change and revolutions that have occurred. This translates into a lot of reading and processing for students to do in our library research blocks and they usually end up photocopying it and taking papers home. I’m considering changing this project’s design to create a portal to archive this information and make it more readily available from school or home computers. The teacher and I (and potentially students) could then post new information we discover on the topic of revolutions. Ideally we could transform this assignment into a paperless one and introduce students to another use for blogs. On the other hand, my photocopier is a great source of library funding...

This brings me to another consideration, the use of tags and a search bar. This is on my list of “things to explore and do when I have a spare moment". I know there must be a way to build a search tool into a blog so that previous posts can be retrieved using folksonomies (gotta love that word) as I see some blog sites using a search bar feature. If a blog is going to be considered a filing cabinet of sorts then it must have a way to easily retrieve the information without scrolling through a backlog of posts. I have recently been reading many top-notch graphic novels reviews from comic enthusiasts trying to gather information to support purchasing a collection of titles. Through Google I was able to locate these informative blogs but I was frustrated that once I found a well-written, respected reviewer and discovered that I couldn’t navigate through the blog easily to locate additional reviews I was looking for without retreating to Google and repeating the process.

I once dismissed blogs as invalid search result responses during web searching. Now I have come to realize that blogs are useful sources of information and have an advantage in that they go beyond the facts and offer interpretations, opinions and sometimes opposing viewpoints. However, I am particular about the weblog sites I consider reading. A quick scan for the style and quality of writing, helps me to determine if this is a source that I would consider reading more in-depth. I have begun to bookmark some of my favourite sites for future reference and even added one to my RSS feed. Using these blogs demonstrates the power of the social nature of the blog. I can benefit from the opinions of others and appreciate their thoughts through leaving a response on their blogsite. I must admit that leaving comments is something I haven't always been doing. I am trying to behave more responsibly and become a better contributor to this whole blogging community by taking a few minutes to respond in turn. It's certainly very validating for me when I receive a response. (Translation: Why not write me a little something if you are reading this?)

My Blogging Type

Just for fun I visited Typeanalyzer and had my blog posts analyzed according to the Myers Brigg inventory. According to the results I am an ISTP - The Mechanic whose attributes are as follows:

The independent and problem-solving type. They are especially attuned to the demands of the moment are masters of responding to challenges that arise spontaneously. They generally prefer to think things out for themselves and often avoid inter-personal conflicts.

The Mechanics enjoy working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often like seek fun and action both in their work and personal life. They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been accessed on my perceptions and decision making according to the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (a little Wikipedia explanation if you don't know what this is) but I dove into an old curriculum course and dusted off my results from over 25 years ago and apparently I was Extraversion, Sensing, Feeling and Perceiving so the blog results are about a 50% match. Of course, I could have changed but I have no intentions of driving a race car in the near future and my husband will attest to the fact that I’m the most unmechanical person around. He should know as he’s an Automotive shop teacher.

Last Thoughts

When I compared my blogging growth to the indicators Richardson has listed on page 31 I realized that I have made considerable growth in my blogging abilities. According to the criteria I have moved from simple blogging to real blogging. However, I have a way to go before I will be adept enough to consider myself a complex blogger. I shall, however, continue to blog beyond this course because I recognize the potential for this Web 2.0 tool. I need to become more skilled and thoroughly explore blogging by reading and responding and writing and reflecting and learning and this can only happen through much practice and increased fluency with the medium. If anyone reading this post has specific advice they wish to offer me to help guide this process, I welcome your suggestions or comments.

Blogs vs Wikis

Just for fun I came across a neat video (thanks, Lesley) about the differences between blogs and wikis using the classic JFK vs. Nixon presidential debate as a forum for comparison. I’ve inserted it here because I found it entertaining, a good example of what one can do with technology and also because I’m so excited that I actually can do amazing things like inserting video, images, podcasts, various applications and add-ons into my blogs with a certain level of ease. Yup, it's been a long slow process but my blogging skills are steadily improving.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsFU3sAlPx4