Blogging Experience – Wrap Up
Well we are coming into the home stretch of the blogging experience. I believe overall it has been a success. We started with 27 participants two officially drop out after we began. Thirteen people participated fully and blogged about their education specialty, the rest practiced the mechanics of blogging and commenting but without real educational substance. The goal was to expose people to blogging. Within our district there is now a larger group of people who can help make more informed choices about this tool as it related to education. Whether they continue to blog is up to them.
There are a few things I would do differently when we run this again next fall. I would start with setting up the bloglines account, searching for blogs and just reading them for a while. We tried to do edublogs and bloglines at the same time looking back I think that was too much. Many people spent a good number of weeks reading before they felt comfortable writing. So next time I will start with bloglines and how to search for blogs giving more examples of blogs by level and subject to get people started. I would also spend some time on the art of commenting at this point. After people had some time, reading and commenting then I would have them start blogging.
I work with a quality group of educators and have been very pleased with their willingness to experiment and share their expertise. Here are some of the blogs, please stop by and leave an encouraging comment or two.
Special Education
Reflections from the Blogosphere
Special Education in the 21st Century
Transitions that Challenge
School OT thoughts
Reading
Hyannis East Reading Girl
ELL/Foreign Language
Education Exploration: Multicultural Learning and Teaching
Ken’s Pens
Know another language Know another world
Babi’s Blog
Library/21st Century Skills
Teetering on the Threshold: School Librarian’s moving in the 21st Century
General or yet undecided
Buggi’s bits
Work in Progress
Science
Science Gnus
6 thoughts on “Blogging Experience – Wrap Up”
Beth,
Those are excellent suggestions, borne of experience. Will you be speaking at any conferences where you can share your experience and ideas? Your perspective will benefit many other teachers!
Hi Beth,
My first web 2.0 usergroup meeting with the teachers in my district In Michigan is on Feb 6. I will take your advice in setting up several smaller groups. I’ve got a recommended timeline for the rest of the school year. Can’t wait to get going! Thanks again for your tips and help.
Karen, I currently do not have any plans to attend a conference. I am thinking about MassCUE next fall.
Pam, I am looking forward to hearing about your experiences.
Beth,
I just shared your tips with Brian Grenier at http://bumpontheblog.etowns.net/ They may be helpful to get the kids started with blogging as well. Read->Comment->Blog.
Beth,
I think your suggestions would be the icing on what was a very valuable workshop. One thing I would do differently would be to offer the elementary school teachers a time after school with the possibility of extending the session into more than a quick 1/2 hour. I found myself wanting to ask more, but needed to leave to get to school.
Thanks for your time. You do a great job.