Most professions have professional journals that address the current methods and innovations of that profession. They are used as way to announce to the profession what is going on in that profession, what is working, and what is not. Traditionally, these have been printed media coming out on a periodic basis. Many of the periodicals of education may be received by subscription by anyone. My experience, as a teacher, leads me to believe that most classroom teachers do not personally subscribe to any of these Journals, but a few may subscribe to a journal specific to their subject area. I would hope that administrators would make up the largest group of subscribers for these periodicals, but receiving them does not guarantee reading them.
With the advent of a computer-driven, digital revolution, the influence of these journals may have been in some ways diminished. Most of the content in these journals is written for one-way communication. Often if there is opposition to an article, the earliest appearance of that opposition would come in the next edition of the journal, if at all.
Enter the Blog Post! A Blog, which is short for Weblog, is a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer, according to Merriam-Webster. In the hands of an educator it may serve as a window to the classroom. In the hands of an innovative, progressive educator it may be a glimpse of the future. The advantage of blogs over journals is that the reader may immediately interact with the writer for all to see, and additionally comment. Blogs are not just content consumption, but rather content interaction.
When a particular blog strikes a chord among educators it generates additional blogs supporting, or opposing the original reflection. None of this was possible in the print media at the speed and intensity generated by blogs. It is also my opinion that, seemingly, often times, journals favor credentials more than ideas. Authors of articles are usually not the classroom teachers, but Administrators or researchers. They certainly have an important role in this, but a classroom perspective goes a long way to promote change with educators. Blogs give voice to that much-needed classroom perspective.
With all this wonderful stuff going on with education blogs, where is the influence changing education? How have the thought-leaders in education led us from the brink with their blogging conversations? Why have educators not glimpsed the future of education through the lens of the education blogs?
Technology and a lack of connectedness might be one answer. Blogs are delivered through technology. Those educators who employ the use of technology as a professional tool for communication and collaboration do not need an explanation of the importance of blogs to education. I do question however, if those, who are “connected”, represent a large enough segment of the profession to affect a systemic change? There are many, many educators who are not accessing technology as a professional tool for learning and lacking exposure to education blogs.
I think as a society we all benefit by blogging. It enables us to feel the pulse of innovation and reflect on needed change. This is something that we need to communicate to our students to carry to whatever field of endeavor they choose to enter. Blogging will be in the world for which we are preparing them. We need to share blogs with colleagues even if we need to reduce it to the confines of print media; print it out for handing out. We need to engage bloggers on their ideas and question their assertions to either strengthen their resolve, or defeat faulty reasoning. Engaging people in blogs is a method of getting involved in a movement for change, and moving forward which has not been afforded us before. It is a way we can actually participate in a discussion that may have a lasting effect. For blogging to succeed, we need to support, question, reflect upon, contribute to, and advocate for blogs. Sharing may not be a moral imperative but for educators it should be a professional imperative.
Really liked this post. For me blogging has really helped me develop my voice and support my creativity. I feel so supported and blogging has also helped me share my innovation which supports collaboration with others. I would like to share this post with my blogging course I am teaching in early August for K-4 teachers. Thanks!
For me, blogging lets me join my two professional worlds–teaching/education and publishing as a children’s author and illustrator. It allows me to foster meaningful relationships between my colleagues in both areas as well.
Reblogged this on The Echo Chamber.
I’ve found that student blogging is an incredibly effective way to help students engage topics that they would not have normally engaged. Furthermore I’ve found that having students keep blogs helps them to articulate their ideas more coherently and to be more aware of their “online identity.” Finally, student blogs have served as a valuable tool for starting conversations in the classroom. If a student has already developed their thoughts in writing, they will be more able/confident in articulating them verbally.
My frustration is when teachers don’t read blogs or start their own blog, to try it for themselves, because they don’t have time. We’re all busy and if something is worthwhile or will help you reflect and become better at your job, isn’t it worth finding the time or making the time? I can’t convince a lot of my colleagues even when I find money to train them! After the money and the training is over they abandon their blogs. Seems cheap to me.
But blogging isn’t for everyone. Could it be that an alternative form of reflection would be appropriate toward the same ends for these colleagues? Perhaps a Professional Learning Community it’s to meet with, or even vlogging?
All rings true to me! Thank you for blogging. Wondering if you could point to a place online that curates all the “thought leaders” in education blogs? I’d love to start reading and commenting more often, but it is hard to know where to start. Who are the best people to be reading in education? Building a PLN on Twitter has been great, but I am eager to contribute to the conversation.
Adam
This should get you started at least. Here is a link to a site called Teach 100. It is a list of the Top Education Blogs ranked in order and updated each day. Each title is hyperlinked to each individual blog site. http://teach.com/teach100/page/2 Thanks for contributing.
Hello Adam, in addition to Tom’s recommendation – much like following someone’s followings on Twitter, many bloggers have a bog reading list embedded as a gadget on their blog. When I find a few that I like, I then see who they are reading. My reading list has grown steadily this way. I also get engaged. In the comments areas if my favorite blogs. When someone posts a comment that I appreciate, I see if they have their own blog.
I agree with Tom’s assertion – connecting with other learners is educationally imperative. (My 2 cents)
Over in the UK, the recently created Echo chamber – http://educationechochamber.wordpress.com/ – is curating blogs from a more ‘traditionalits’ (versus ‘progressive’) viewpoint. And doing it rather well.
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[…] Most professions have professional journals that address the current methods and innovations of that profession. They are used as way to announce to the profession what is going on in that professi… […]
[…] “Enter the Blog Post! A Blog, which is short for Weblog, is a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer, according to Merriam-Webster. In the hands of an educator it may serve as a window to the classroom. In the hands of an innovative, progressive educator it may be a glimpse of the future. The advantage of blogs over journals is that the reader may immediately interact with the writer for all to see, and additionally comment. Blogs are not just content consumption, but rather content interaction.”To read further please lick here: https://tomwhitby.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/why-blogs-and-who-needs-them-anyway/ […]
[…] Most professions have professional journals that address the current methods and innovations of that profession. They are used as way to announce to the profession what is going on in that professi… […]
I’m new to blogging and started one, thanks to a suggestion from our tech director at my school. I’m so glad I did! I’m finding that it’s a great way to reflect and clarify my thoughts and reasons behind a feeling or practice. I’m trying to keep in mind that blogging is for my personal purpose (as I’ve read), but it sure feels great when someone comments. I’m going to make more of an effort to interact with bloggers; thanks for the Teach 100 website link above. I’ve been looking for WordPress educators since that’s my blog site, and this will surely help!
[…] Most professions have professional journals that address the current methods and innovations of that profession. They are used as way to announce to the profession what is going on in that professi… […]
Thank you everyone for your response to my comment about resources. In terms of my own blog, I have kept blog(s) for the service trips I’ve led in the last couple – one for each organization. More of a reporting…keep up with me and the group…type thing for the parents. I have never kept a blog of my own learning. Excited to start! I just started a blog on wordpress: chrisadamjones.wordpress.com. I am thinking that I will link the other blogs I’ve maintained to this MAIN site. Anyway, thanks.
[…] https://tomwhitby.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/why-blogs-and-who-needs-them-anyway/ […]
I think you are correct in identifying the thought to published content timescale as being one of the principle differences between a blog and a journal article, and I would agree that credentials may play a role in the acceptance of articles. However I think there is still a role for some version of peer review in academic discussion, and I’m not sure that commenting on blogs is sufficiently robust to do this job effectively. We may have problems with editors, particularly when they don’t understand our work, and it is tempting to sidestep the process, but they do perform a valuable role, and if they couldn’t understand the importance and relevance of what we have written, then maybe our audience for the work would also have problems.
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The Next Imperative – get departments of education, politicians and voters to read the “professional” blogs. @_williamwallace
I am convinced blogging or some form of writing is key in professional development. I hated the idea of journaling, but love the idea of blogging. Some may feel the opposite. Either way, we must reflect and share to improve. Thanks for highlighting these ideas.
[…] blogs bouncing around in my feeds of late. These include Deb Hicks‘ ‘Why Blog’, Tom Whitby’s ‘Why Blogs and Who Needs Them Anyway’ and Peter DeWitt’s ‘The Benefits of […]
This was a lovely blog ppost