Reflections

I joined this blog for two reasons: (1) because I wanted to explore using blog groups as a teaching tool and (2) because I wanted to start seriously thinking about the book I said I would write after I finished my dissertation. First, I really like social networking tools because they are both educational and empowering. Behind my online identity I have power! I feel confident and supported by my "net" groups - I don't feel this way face to face (f2f). F2f conversations and support are usually abrupt and ill conceived where as feedback from an online venue is thoughtful and calculated (in a good way :-)).

I think the majority of folks still see this venue as impersonal and cold. "How can you teach online when you can't have a f2f conversation?" It's hard to explain. I think they see it as time-consuming rather than an expedited process in which you can shift effortlessly when necessary then come back when you have the time and/or are emotionally equipped to express your thoughts truthfully and sincerely. I wish people would give it a shot because this is where our students live. This is the world they live in!

The upside is that I have started the thought process - I know now what this book will look like. I have started making connections, doing research, inquiring about education trips, etc. that will result in a publishable piece of work. I also have four friends who are concerned about the same things (roadblocks, time constraints, etc.) I am and we can talk about it via this blog.

The downside is the same downside I have with EVERYTHING! I always have way too many irons in the fire and I do everything about half-assed. One thing that I can say that has truly "turned a negative into a positive" from the experience is that I need to get some focus in my life - make everything connect. If doesn't connect then stop doing it!

Lesson learned...

Networking

I joined a group called The Global Education Collaborative today...hmmm. It is a social networking site (like Twitter, Diigo, Zotero, etc) geared toward education interested in global education. It looks way cool! I think the group can help me connect with information I am interested in for the book. What a cool world it is out there on the Net!

So, we will continue...

It looks like we will continue our writing club blogging during a portion of our winter break. I am excited about that!

I really like this forum and have been thinking of ways to tie this in with my classes next spring. I am also looking at ways of connecting Internet based social networking (Diigo, Twitter, Zotera, etc.) with the blogging environment so that bookmarks of scholarly work, tag clouds, RSS feeds, personal reflection and critical position analysis, and so on can be connected to assist groups of folks with their writing and research. While much of my online behavior has been recreational/personal the last few months, I have learned a great deal and I believe the knowledge gained can be channeled into a scholarly activity. I won't give up the recreational use but I think merging the two could be very beneficial.

Thanks to Sally for leading us through this experiment!