Jul 24 2007
Response to Weblogg-ed
I heard Will Richardson at NECC07 and have been reading his blog this summer. It has been interesting to read his continuing thoughts about the importance of the quality and purpose of blogs, not just blogging for blogging sake. Also, he has been questioning the format of “expert” presentations at NECC, BLC, etc. and writing about trying to build conversations and connections as part of working with teachers in groups.
I was one of many who responded to a July 17 blog entry about the difficulty of getting educators to focus on their own learning and not just the students. That was my first comment on a blog other than a class or contained group. So far, no return comments…
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I also commented on the fact that he say the need for educators to learn as well as the students. I believe that many teachers are leary of ‘new’ and believe that they are suppose to know all and that many times with technology students are able and willing to help within the classroom.
I find his writing clear and easy to read and somehow (although I do not know why) I imagine that his speeches and presentations are easy to listen to and ones that keep your attention.
But what an awesome start!! I too listened to Will at NECC and BLC (though BLC was virtual!) I was lucky enough to participate in some of the skypecasts too from BLC since I could not be there physically, and I have to agree. The presenters and expert panels are always awesome, but I learned so much from the secondary conversations too that were happening simultaneously during the presentations at BLC. Those conversations really stretched my mind and made me a believer that learning can truly happen on many levels. Keep commenting on his and other blogs. Get an aggregator (if you are not using one already) and subscribe to the many, many experts out there. I would suggest David Warlick, Wes Fryer,David Jakes, Jeff Utecht, Joyce Valenza, and others to follow. See their blogrolls to find others to follow. Use comments to stretch yours and their minds and make us all think! My bloglines has become the best professional development I’ve had in my 20+ years as an educator.
Thanks so much for your comment. I do have a Bloglines aggregator and I’m working on becoming a more regular reader (and more and more a “commenter”) of some of those educators you mention so that I am in the flow of the conversation.