Comments on: Edge U blogging http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/06/09/edge-u-blogging/ (bôr'dər-lănd') n. Located on or near a frontier. An indeterminate area or condition. Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:24:44 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Doug http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/06/09/edge-u-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-4540 Doug Tue, 20 Jun 2006 00:47:55 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/06/09/edge-u-blogging/#comment-4540 Dean, our points of view are probably not too far apart. Public blogging is important to me, too, and I understand some of the hazards - especially where unsophisticated little kids are given access. Teachers need to be knowledgeable in order to be responsible. If reading stuff first makes them comfortable before they jump in, then that's how they should do it. I'm comfortable with lots of uncertainty, so I tend to act first and ask questions later. But I wouldn't do that at the same time I was responsible for leading two dozen 10 year olds. I think teachers need to have some direct experience. Most of the other things we teach involved training in one form or another. I, too, look for an 'about' page in every blog. Without that, I can't make sense of what I read, either. Dean, our points of view are probably not too far apart. Public blogging is important to me, too, and I understand some of the hazards – especially where unsophisticated little kids are given access. Teachers need to be knowledgeable in order to be responsible. If reading stuff first makes them comfortable before they jump in, then that’s how they should do it. I’m comfortable with lots of uncertainty, so I tend to act first and ask questions later. But I wouldn’t do that at the same time I was responsible for leading two dozen 10 year olds. I think teachers need to have some direct experience. Most of the other things we teach involved training in one form or another.

I, too, look for an ‘about’ page in every blog. Without that, I can’t make sense of what I read, either.

]]> By: Dean Shareski http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/06/09/edge-u-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-4512 Dean Shareski Mon, 19 Jun 2006 16:17:57 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/06/09/edge-u-blogging/#comment-4512 Doug, I've been wrestling with two issues you raise here. The first about which comes first reading or writing. While I used to hold the opinion that it wasn't that important, I'm leaning towards the <a href="http://ideasandthoughts.org/2006/06/15/joining-the-conversation/" rel="nofollow">reading first</a>, at least for most people. But again, it may not be true for everyone. The second issue you raise here and with some of your other posts is the decision to have public or private blogs. I really encourage teachers to think in terms of public blogging only. I understand there may be a need occasionally to post privately but the power of social networking is in being both public and forthright in who you are. That's why the anonymous posting bothers me. Even with kids. I'm not saying they should use personal information but those reading it should have some context: age and even general geographic information (inner city, rural, state, city maybe) I find it difficult to read blogs that don't have an about page. Blogging is always in context with who you are. Doug,

I’ve been wrestling with two issues you raise here. The first about which comes first reading or writing. While I used to hold the opinion that it wasn’t that important, I’m leaning towards the reading first, at least for most people. But again, it may not be true for everyone.

The second issue you raise here and with some of your other posts is the decision to have public or private blogs. I really encourage teachers to think in terms of public blogging only. I understand there may be a need occasionally to post privately but the power of social networking is in being both public and forthright in who you are. That’s why the anonymous posting bothers me. Even with kids. I’m not saying they should use personal information but those reading it should have some context: age and even general geographic information (inner city, rural, state, city maybe) I find it difficult to read blogs that don’t have an about page. Blogging is always in context with who you are.

]]> By: Teaching Generation Z » Comments Are The Lifeblood Of Blogs http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/06/09/edge-u-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-4067 Teaching Generation Z » Comments Are The Lifeblood Of Blogs Sun, 11 Jun 2006 13:28:56 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/06/09/edge-u-blogging/#comment-4067 [...] As I’ve been pushing my point of view that if you want to get your students into blogging, then you need to be a blogger too, a couple of interesting posts of a supportive and expansionary nature have appeared as a direct or indirect result. Firstly, Doug at Borderland has analysed my previous post and reflected on points raised within and the comments continue that conversation. Read both for a full picture. [...] [...] As I’ve been pushing my point of view that if you want to get your students into blogging, then you need to be a blogger too, a couple of interesting posts of a supportive and expansionary nature have appeared as a direct or indirect result. Firstly, Doug at Borderland has analysed my previous post and reflected on points raised within and the comments continue that conversation. Read both for a full picture. [...]

]]> By: Doug http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/06/09/edge-u-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-4062 Doug Sun, 11 Jun 2006 04:25:32 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/06/09/edge-u-blogging/#comment-4062 Mark, your statement, <em>"You have to know the expectations in this new classroom, as well as the possibilitites. And then you have to know how the machine runs,"</em> says it all. I like the term <em>'new classroom'</em>. It IS all about docks and boats, and leaving. Mark, your statement, “You have to know the expectations in this new classroom, as well as the possibilitites. And then you have to know how the machine runs,” says it all. I like the term ‘new classroom’. It IS all about docks and boats, and leaving.

]]> By: Mark Ahlness http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/06/09/edge-u-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-4061 Mark Ahlness Sun, 11 Jun 2006 04:09:56 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/06/09/edge-u-blogging/#comment-4061 Doug, I agree wholeheartedly that we teachers must blog first before we can blog effectively with our kids. From my perspective it's not about credibility, it's just about knowing how. The questions you posed as soon as one starts a blog - non-bloggers have no idea, and they need to. Several times this school year I've had to use my knowledge of and experience with blogging (both limited, for sure) to guide my third graders through stuff. For example, dealing with comments. Like "what if somebody leaves a comment, but they don't have a blog?" or "is it ok to leave a reply to a comment on my blog as a comment to something they wrote (which is all about something else)?" or "do I HAVE to respond somehow?" Seems like little stuff, but in third grade, we're still teaching/preaching ethics, at least in my class. You have to know the expectations in this new classroom, as well as the possibilitites. And then you have to know how the machine runs.... http://roomtwelve.com When I show my colleagues the amazing things my kids have done this year on their blogs, the first thing I tell them is to blog first themselves. If they then get bit, "get it", etc, then go ahead and go for it with the kids. Otherwise, I'm afraid the boat will not leave the dock. - Mark Doug,
I agree wholeheartedly that we teachers must blog first before we can blog effectively with our kids. From my perspective it’s not about credibility, it’s just about knowing how. The questions you posed as soon as one starts a blog – non-bloggers have no idea, and they need to.

Several times this school year I’ve had to use my knowledge of and experience with blogging (both limited, for sure) to guide my third graders through stuff. For example, dealing with comments. Like “what if somebody leaves a comment, but they don’t have a blog?” or “is it ok to leave a reply to a comment on my blog as a comment to something they wrote (which is all about something else)?” or “do I HAVE to respond somehow?”

Seems like little stuff, but in third grade, we’re still teaching/preaching ethics, at least in my class. You have to know the expectations in this new classroom, as well as the possibilitites. And then you have to know how the machine runs…. http://roomtwelve.com

When I show my colleagues the amazing things my kids have done this year on their blogs, the first thing I tell them is to blog first themselves. If they then get bit, “get it”, etc, then go ahead and go for it with the kids. Otherwise, I’m afraid the boat will not leave the dock. – Mark

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