Welcome to Ellicottville, NY where I have about 30 teachers and administrators in the room for the first session of what will be three days of immersion into blogs, wikis, podcasts, rss feeds, social bookmarking sites etc. AND pedagogy! (What a concept.)
So before we set up Blogger blogs, I give them my impassioned warning about how you have to be willing to talk (or blog) to the empty room, but that if you keep writing good stuff, people will find you. I draw the “Long Tail” on my tablet, give them strategies to find other bloggers, tell them how to comment on other posts and link back to their own. “Keep the faith!”
Then we make blogs. Five minutes. I tell them to read first, then write. To break intellectual sweat. To reflect, think, post. To…ah, whatever. Just post. But, of course be patient. Keep at it. The comments will come. Don’t…
When wouldn’t you know it. Like that moment in the big Bingo parlor when you call out “N-34” and someone’s hand shoots up declaring victory, someone in the room says “Hey! I got a comment!” Six minutes after posting.
Six.
I run and put her blog up on the big screen. Even I am impressed. Six minutes. How did that happen, I ask? (Maybe I’ll tell them after dinner.)
I think we’re gettin’ it…
It totally depends on the subject matter you blog on. For example, at this instant, you blogged on the long tail. And there are many of us out there watching the blog traffic on that term through tools such as Technorati. And of course, many of us have agenda’s we would like to promote through posting comments.
For example, mine is the practice of HitTailing, which is specifically writing for the long tail of search. The demo link is on my name. It’s a great strategy for allowing other like-minded bloggers to find you.
Would it bother your students if you posted links to their blogs? I for one would like to look at more and, I hope, offer encouragement.
I would like to share with your students my joy in reading your new book. In case they haven’t purchased it, I can highly recommend it (and I don’t get a commission)! I teach an online course for pre-service and practicing teachers and plan to use it as the basic text for my course in the fall. Prior to finding your book I used many online articles in the course, but your book has meant I only add need to add those articles that cover the results of specific. research or how to apply the tech tools to specific fields such as ESOL. Good luck to all the new bloggers.
I second Dana’s question/suggestion…
I would really enjoy the opportunity to read their blogs and comment on any posts that relate to my interests.
I am one of the participants in the training referenced. As part of the leadership cohort, I was supposed to visit each strand of three but can’t leave this one. It is rare that I attend a conference such as this one where I have the opportunity to learn something new, exciting, RELEVANT, and worthwhile. Usually, I end up thinking I should have stayed at school keeping up with my work load. However, I am very happy to spend three days learning how to use a dynamic communication tool where I can gather the ideas of others in my continual search for new ways to help students succeed. Blogging looks like a way to increase internal communications in our school, for all of those students and teachers who want to weigh in on a subject but either can’t get to me or aren’t comfortable communicating face to face. THANK YOU–can’t wait to blog next year at G-Town talks!
I have to say I am hooked on blogging. I heard Will speak at a MassCUE leadership meeting, bought his book and started my blog that very night. I have found it extremly helpful in honing my own thinking and helping me come to grips with all the new tools and hopefully changes in the learning experience. Having others read, comment and offer suggestions has been a great bonus. Though I find I get many more emails from people then comments, maybe some are too shy yet to have their comments out there.
Will is currently teaching me how to link to my blog, so here goes.
It is at G-Town talks.
I can personally attest to the addiction of blogging as well, and I love the idea that more and more teachers are getting into blogging. I know from personal experience that our social webs are our life-lines during the school year and expanding that web to the internet is fantastic.
Jennie
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