Here I am. Just me. Wondering what exactly a blog is and why I should use it. So, I decided to search Google and found several websites. After reading several I settled upon Daily Blog Tips. I found it ironic when the article asked this question, "It is 2008; do we still need to ask ourselves what a blog is?" Apparently, the whole world knows what a blog is, except me.
Then, I wondered how to set up a blog? After reading and viewing videos it seemed easy enough. My confidence was up, after all I was understanding and comprehending, isn't that a quality of a good student? I should have recognized that neon signal flashing, "Warning, trouble ahead." Again more irony, I had cookie issues. (And not the chocolate chip variety.) That lead to another Google search. What the heck are cookies and now what?
As some of you have already guessed, my journey is just beginning. I can't believe how far behind in technology I feel. While eating dinner at the neighbor’s house on Sunday, I found out that he Tweets. It was totally unexpected. But over dessert he introduced me to Twitter. (Nice to meet you, Twitter. I think I might just find a purpose for you.)
Then, I wondered how to set up a blog? After reading and viewing videos it seemed easy enough. My confidence was up, after all I was understanding and comprehending, isn't that a quality of a good student? I should have recognized that neon signal flashing, "Warning, trouble ahead." Again more irony, I had cookie issues. (And not the chocolate chip variety.) That lead to another Google search. What the heck are cookies and now what?
As some of you have already guessed, my journey is just beginning. I can't believe how far behind in technology I feel. While eating dinner at the neighbor’s house on Sunday, I found out that he Tweets. It was totally unexpected. But over dessert he introduced me to Twitter. (Nice to meet you, Twitter. I think I might just find a purpose for you.)
I'm not sure how I ended up this way.
Sometimes I think it is because I am not surrounded by
"techies" other times I am really scared about being too visible. Sometimes I am afraid that I won't know how to do something on my own. Perhaps learning how to do things on my own is fun. After-all, time seems to fly by each time I sit at the computer to do work for this class. One thing is for sure, unless I am a shipping vessel you won't find my picture on Flickr.
No matter what my personal feeling is or how small my digital footprint is, my students are
going to be using it. If I want to continue to differentiate and show
that I am invested in what they care about, I am going to have to do this. At school on Monday, I asked my classes about blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and Diigo. Not many of my students knew what I was talking about. Later, in a faculty meeting the principal asked staff to share websites they were currently using. No one really offered any up. Was it just too late in the afternoon, are teachers shy, or do we have a bigger issue with collaborating?
Today I learned that searching can be my friend. I gained confidence by quickly accepting "Google Search" as my ally. (Thank you Google for making it
so easy to find out how to do something new by just typing a simple phrase, “How
do I set up a blog?" "What is a digital footprint?”.) I look forward to figuring out how to link things the way others are doing, with that little arrow thing. I am going to hunt around school in the coming days to find someone who has created a classroom blog so that I can see how they implement it.
You're not alone in the thought about what blogging is because I am also new to the world of blogging. I would like to think being a computer geek would mean I understand a good deal about technology and the Internet but sadly it seems that is not the case. I have the same feeling that I am still behind on technology because no one is truly ahead of it. Its great you want to learn in order to differentiate your classroom.
ReplyDeleteYou state " Later, in a faculty meeting the principal asked staff to share websites they were currently using. No one really offered any up" I have seen this before even though I am not a teacher myself. This happens even in graduate classes as like Intro to Ed, very few students used any websites even just for reading or didn't speak up about it. I wonder why it is like that? I didn't know any because I come from computer science background and not an education one so it curious to see actual teacher not using resources which are out there.
I agree that it is a great idea for teachers to try and better their knowledge and, then in turn, better their students knowledge of technology but it should be done in a way that doesn't overwhelm and discourage. Like any profession, ideas are changing and updating and professionals need to continue to learn and improve their skills but small steps can be used when implementing new technology ideas. If none of the teachers have any suggestions for helpful websites that may be an impetus for the administration to provide training and help in this area. Or it may be like the text suggests - in the past, teaching has been a solo sport where not a lot of collaboration took place so teachers don't feel comfortable sharing.
ReplyDeleteYour first paragraph made me laugh out loud, not at you, but with you! My husband asked me what I was laughing at! That is great that you have had the perseverance to stick with it. Some people would have headed for the hills already and dropped the class. Especially with your "cookie" issues and all. Thank you for realizing that google is now your best friend. If there is nothing I can teach you in this class, it is to ask your friend google first and then me! I am proud of you for figuring it out and doing a really great job of it! You even linked. Nice work. I too was afraid of too much information about me out on the internet. I think we all are. We do not want to be fired from our jobs for silly pictures or comments we made that were taken out of context.
ReplyDeleteThe part about not sharing at your school when they were asked for the websites they were using makes me sad. I have so many to share and too many for that matter. I would shout it from the roof tops! But, with that said, I think often times in staff meetings, people are tired and want to head home. The professional development opportunity for sharing websites would be a wiki created where the teachers could add their favorite sites. That would eliminate the "brown noser" teacher. Maybe people would think they were dorky if they spoke up? We are still worried about what others think at times, even though that is sad to say.
Happy you stuck with it and I am excited to learn with you.