David has a feature in EDTECH magazine that addresses the different types of teacher-bloggers that districts may be dealing with these days, and by and large, I think it gives some effective guidelines for school administrators and policy makers who may not yet understand the technology. I realize that the article is focused on the common sense “rules” that are meant to frame the practice, but I’m niggled (if that’s a word) back into the whole blogging as a verb discussion again by the way it gets framed. For instance, this piece:
Professional teacher bloggers are writing as teachers in your schools, with the intent of helping their students learn. Dr. Tim Tyson, principal of Mabry Middle School in Cobb County, Ga., says that his blogging teachers “welcome parents into their classrooms by facilitating active at-home participation in the child’s educational experiences at school.†Tyson’s teachers write about class activities, homework assignments, study guides, project and assessment reminders, and review and extension activities. They also publish exemplary student work, such as videos, podcasts, presentation slides and reports.
Blogging is a powerful communication tool, and communication is an important issue for your school or district. So how do you ensure that the professional teacher blogger is working for the good of the school and does not inadvertently damage efforts to achieve the organization’s mission?
Ok, so here’s my beef, again. Blogs are powerful communication tools. Blogs are powerful publishing tools. But blogging (the verb) is still much more than that to me. Blogging, as in reading and thinking and reflecting and then writing, is connecting and learning, neither of which are discussed in the article. (And maybe they weren’t meant to be, I know) I’m not knocking what Tim or his teachers are doing, I think it’s great. But I’m just asking the question: how are his teachers modeling the use of blogs to learn not just to teach?
I know, I know. I’ve been over this countless times. And hey, I really did let it go for a good while, you have to admit. But I can’t help it. As a recent commenter said about another subject, I expect more…
I agree with you Will. Just because you are using a blog platform doesn’t make it blogging. WordPress is a simple program that you can set up and use for many different purposes. Tim Lauer has his teacher write on a WordPress blog their ‘class notes’. The blog is used as a way to communicate not blog. Just because you use blogging software doesn’t make it blogging. The software can be used in many different ways, it’s great and gives people a simple solution for websites and a way to communicate.
Blogging is more then communicating. It’s conversations, networking, story telling, commenting. It’s active and interactive.
I posted the rest of my thesis on my site which is not really a blog. I tried to examine what went on with two high school classes around current affair topics (which they chose). Have a read and see what you think as I tried to analyze entries and thinking and final dialogical outcomes.
I use my blogging software to impart new links or curriculum updates to my teachers but I’m hesitant to post my views. Why? My opinions are not always popular with teachers who want to stay the course. Unlike Will, I’m not as diplomatic when making my views known. It would actually be good for me to temper that with where people are actually at. I may feel less frustrated with the system of school. Gee, was that another vent. Oops.
I posted the rest of my thesis on my site (http://christel_smith.typepad.com/curriculum_bytes_updates/) which is not really a blog. I tried to examine what went on with two high school classes around current affair topics (which they chose). Have a read and see what you think as I tried to analyze entries and thinking and final dialogical outcomes.
I use my blogging software to impart new links or curriculum updates to my teachers but I’m hesitant to post my views. Why? My opinions are not always popular with teachers who want to stay the course. Unlike Will, I’m not as diplomatic when making my views known. It would actually be good for me to temper that with where people are actually at. I may feel less frustrated with the system of school. Gee, was that another vent. Oops.
Will, I was sad to see you set this crusade aside and it’s good to see it back. It’s important for us to support teacher use of blogs at any level and to not be condescending about it, but the more we can encourage (and model) the kind of “blogging” you are interested in, the better. And it is contagious. 😉
Unfortunately, I don’t always do the best job modeling myself (at my blog), but I’m often encouraging teachers – and often citing your perspective… that blogging starts with reading (or listening or watching), reflecting on what you’re learning, and then composing your thoughts on it… and hopefully getting feedback on it – and giving feedback to others.
I’m not sure it’s true of all your readers, but I read this blog for the inspiring crusade as much as any other reason. 🙂
-Mark
It’s hard to post to a blog and not call what you are doing “blogging.” I mean, I expect to go to a computer to do computing, even if there is not learning involved in my computing. There are many nouns to which we add -ing to make them verbs, so bloggers call what they do “blogging” quite naturally.
It’s hard enough to get teachers to maintain a blog. But then to tell them they are not actually “blogging” only discourages them. Perhaps the kind of posting in blogs you refer to needs an adjective to go with it. Something like “connective blogging” or “reflective blogging” can be used to make the distinction…?
Teacher blogs that only post homework really bug me. Read page 246 and answer questions 1-5. This is not blog-worthy! Yes, it is easy to publish a blog, but if you don’t use a blog to write about thoughts and ideas, then a static webpage is what should be used. Students need to see the difference between the two and know that each has a purpose.
When I’m talking to teachers, I like to classify blogs and make clear distinctions between the online newsletter and the rich, professional learning blog.
Most teachers want the online newsletter as an entry point and often never go beyond this. I think it’s partly because they’re fearful and also because a large number of teachers are not all that reflective.
Equating a “blog” with “blogging” the verb is akin to the word “teach” and “teaching” Most of us would agree that writing an article or giving a lecture may not be teaching at least not very good teaching. Providing a hands on, interactive experience filled with opportunity to learn, question and explore is generally considered best practice.
Few educators would argue that point. I think in a few years, hopefully the same thing will happen with regards to blogging and other read/write tools.
Will,
I agree with Mark Wagner’s comment above. We need to support teachers’ use of blogging at whatever level it is. Most will enter the world of blogging by posting their assignments, what they did in class, field trip info, etc. This is ok. Who made the rules that this wasn’t ok? However, what we must do is let the teachers enter the world of blogging at this level and then move them along — teach them how to use their blog for effective teaching and learning, communication, feedback, etc.
Another way teachers see a blog is free and easy to use software for creating a classroom web page. This is a way to get teachers to create blogs and then move them forward into the “blogging” world.
I like what Tony states above — don’t discourage the teachers — come up with a descriptive adjective for their “blogging.”
What is so important about creating an iron clad definition of blogging? Doesn’t the very creation of artificial boundaries fly in the face of everything Internet? I’m not sure I understand why a person would be so adamant about who is blogging and who is not unless they see themselves as riding above the fray.
Some teachers are free to create blogs for educational purposes addressing the needs of students and parents. Like doctors adhering to the Hippocratic oath, teachers have a higher calling and rule of conduct to uphold. The modus operandi for teachers is heavily laden with legalese. In short it prohibits teachers from supporting any particular political cause/view on taxpayer time. Teachers are commissioned to act responsibly. Accountability cannot be avoided in the teaching profession.
It seems to me, common sense should prevail among teachers to use an unbiased approach in presenting blog content to their students. A teacher provide both sides of an issue. Isn’t the goal to create responsible,thinking citizens?
I also agree with Julia, above, who thinks discouraging teachers should be discouraged! After all, if a blog is a web log recording input over time, what difference does it make if this input creates a homework post, a teacher home page or a student forum? In the end it is a teaching tool and should be used responsibly by teachers.
Letting christmas fade off to the past and going thru some of my bookmarks…I was here before because I have this blog bookmarked…. But Ido not recognize it, so you must have made some serious changes in the design?