“Blogging, then, whether in graduate schools or kindergartens - in elite universities or slum schools - binds all of us together. In blogging we display our views of knowledge and learning, we advertise our ideas, how we reason, and how we struggle with moral choices whether we intend to or not. To blog is to enlist in a technical, morally based vocation...
Edubloggers, do you see blogging as an extension of your teaching? If not, should you?
On the flip side, do you see teaching as an extension of your blogging?”
I couldn’t resist answering these questions but I had to take some time to think about how I felt.
I believe that blogging and teaching go hand in hand for me. After three years of blogging, I can’t imagine both not existing together and that is why I work towards encouraging other teachers to blog.
I have seen how blogging helps me reflect on my teaching practices. By writing about the process I used, I can see what worked or didn’t work and see why. It helped me see the purpose of doing things a certain way and allowed me to see the flexibility in changing things. I was able to see similarities in things that worked and was able to apply this to other lessons in order to be more successful. So I guess in this way, I see blogging as an extension of my teaching.
Yet, when I am blogging, I am usually talking about a specific topic which in turn motivates me to try different things with my teaching. When others comment on my blog, the conversation usually inspires me to do more. I also clarify my thoughts and beliefs about teaching through my blogging which in turn makes my teaching techniques more effective. I think if I had blogged many years ago, I would have been a better teacher which is why I try to encourage my students in my graduate classes to blog. I want them to see the benefits of blogging too. In this way, I see my teaching as an extension of my blogging.
How do you feel about this? Please share your thoughts.
Posted on the Successful Teaching Blog by loonyhiker (successfulteaching at gmail dot com).
Original image: 'Two Bloggers, after Norman Rockwell'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9106303@N05/2744489459 by: Mike Licht
3 comments:
I wish that my 'rookie teacher' orientation group would have included a blogging component where our co-workers could read and comment. It would have benefitted me so much to read how other people were struggling or making strides, and I think writing about my issues would have made me feel better, especially if my peers commented. Even better, I'd like it if a few mentor teachers were assigned to read the blogs and offer their advice. I think it would have really helped take the stress away and also improve me as a teacher because I'd have quick feedback.
The only problem is that new teachers don't have much time, and I'm sure for most, blogging would just fall to the bottom of the To Do list unless it was required- and if it was required, I don't think it would be as valuable. Oh well.
@luckeyfrog Thanks for the reminder that my commenting on new teacher's blogs are important too.
Wow, ok, so I had a thought of what I wanted to say, then I read luckeyfrog's comment and got another. So here I go.
First, the blogging. . . for students.. . . when we did our virtual snow day, the students were all at home Skyping in. They had to write about the snow. The kids were then putting their poems and writings into the Skype and classmates were giving immediate feedback. Blogging would be the same thing. I think it's very beneficial for the kids.
Now, on luckeyfrog's comment. . . .I was just thinking about college students that I will be having come in to tutor, should I ask them to blog weekly about their thoughts? Would that help them know what to write and how to come into the tutor sessions instead of waiting until the end of the semester when they are done and they maybe haven't gotten anything out of it?
Great post! Thanks for sharing.
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