WARNING! This website is no longer actively maintained. It is an archive of 2 years work by Doug Belshaw who now blogs at dougbelshaw.com...
Although it seems like I’ve been going longer than that, this month marks the proper one-year anniversary of this blog. The benefits of posting to this blog regularly have been, and continue to be, considerable. I have connected with people worldwide, found new ways to innovate in the classroom, and managed to inspire one or two others to start blogging along the way. In what follows I hope to share with you some of the ways in which my life as a teacher has improved over the last year due, in the most part, to authoring this blog… 
So, this year I have:
- Setup learning.mrbelshaw.co.uk to interact with my students (two-way communication rather than just the previously rather static mrbelshaw.co.uk)
- Learned how to rescue old PCs to use Linux on them.
- Started using del.icio.us to share and be notified of new and interesting links.
- Found out how to use wikis for educational purposes (although I’m not currently actively using one with students, I am for some of my lessing planning, my Ed.D. research, etc. - see Doug’s Thinking Space)
- Produced a series of guides on things from podcasting to 20 Ideas on Using Educational Technnology (still incomplete!)
- Downloaded a lot of teaching resources via Bittorrent
- Talked a lot about Google’s various services
- Discovered how to use Excel’s ‘conditional formatting’ to create visual homework checkers
- Discussed some of the music I play in lessons for various purposes
- Used a lot of metaphors (e.g. The Teacher as DJ)
- Used Google Earth in the classroom to enhance learning, rather than just as a toy!
- Touched on behaviour management issues
- Mentioned why using ICT in education is a good idea
- Talked a fair bit about curriculum change and the future of schools
- Linked to other edu-blogs worth reading
- Analyzed the theory of multiple intelligences
- Called for teachers to use the technology students already have for learning
- Created - and then abandoned - the EduPress project (a customized version of Wordpress for teachers)
- Given advice to student teachers
- Set up the EffectiveICT Forum (with Andrew Field) to promote the use of ICT in education
- Discussed my (short-lived) experiences as a supply teacher
- Pointed to some examples of great teachers
- Emphasized the importance of teachers being lifelong learners
- Wondered whether compulsory schooling is the best interests of our children
- Looked at things to do with my Ed.D. modules (Ed.D blog)
- Shared the little things that make my teaching what it is
- Produced free and Creative Commons-licensed resources for teachers to use in the classroom
- Demonstrated how iPods can be used for ‘revisioncasts’ or ‘learning slideshows’
- Launched the historyshareforum for the sharing of free (usually editable) resources relating to the teaching of History
- Introduced teachers in the West to futuristic technologies from the East
- Posted about 10 ways to be a kick-ass tutor
- Thought about the impact of Web 2.0 and whether the digital natives vs. digital immigrants dichotomy is real
- Setup student blogs and started using Imbee.com with younger students
…and, of course, kept you all up-to-date via the Microblog!
Popularity: 5% [?]
… and thanks for sharing it all with us!
Hi Doug
I have only relatively recently discovered your blog and am obviously very impressed and grateful for the ideas. Many teachers have benefitted from them also. Have you looked into the impacts on your students? How have you found the 'two way communication' with the students? This is an area that I have found most challenging - firstly getting students to access websites/blogs and secondly to contribute.Has the wiki been successful in encouraging student participation?
Thanks for your comments Peter and Tom.
Tom, you're right that sometimes it's difficult to get students to participate. I have the advantage of being 25 and so being pretty much of their generation. Hence it's seen more as something that we're doing, rather than something being inflicted upon them!
With setting up student blogs I have noticed a bit of reticence from the quieter girls who lack some ICT skills. Having said that, with a bit of motivation they will go along with it - they realise it's the future, you see…
The student blogs look a very useful prospect. How do you cope with the old inequality of access issue? in a silimar vein, I have noticed that the usage of our departmental site (outside school time) is predominantly those from more affluent backgrounds and the most able. In our drive to develop independent learners do you worry that we are further polarizing learners into 'us and them'. My point, I suppose is how can we encourage participation across all students?
I teach in a school which probably has about 80% of pupils from a middle-class background. In addition, there's a host of computers around school that are available at breaks, lunchtimes and after school. Yes, some have complained that 'they don't have the Internet at home' but, as far as I see it, if they can go round to their mate's house to play Xbox games they can go round to do their homework too!
Also, I tend to give up most of my break/lunch times to help students with various things. They know that if they come and see me I will arrange somewhere for them to do their work. I have been known to let them use my laptop (with their login to the school network not mine, of course!)
We have to start using the technologies we do have otherwise there is no incentive for the stragglers to catch up…
I have been a follower of this Blogg from the begining and have used many of the ideas contained within it.
For me the real strength of this Blogg is it clearly demonstrates what is possible with the right attitude. For teachers just starting out it is easy to feel overwhelemed by the huge array of tasks they have to perform and the more developmental tasks often take a back burner. This blogg just goes to show what a little hear and a little there ultimately produces a fantastic result. I think you've done a great job and I know I have found many of the ideas and resources a great help.
Keep up the good work.
Will
Thanks for your kind words Will!
I too have closely followed the progress of this blog over the last 12 months (or the ‘Belshaw Express’ as I like to think of it - so many ideas and pulling so many people in its’ wake) and would also like to offer my congratulations on its success. Doug, your enthusiasm is infectious, long may it continue. Cheers! Dan
Ha ha ha - ‘Belshaw Express’ indeed…
I just found your blog, and it's such an inspiration to me. I started a blog myself last August to share with others what I have learned as a teacher and the resourses I've found useful. I've really enjoyed the mentoring aspect. My next step is to have my grade 11/12 student write blogs in my Learning Strategies Class. Since I'm a newbie at blogging, I really appreciate seeing what you have done and being able to learn from you. Thanks. It's all so exciting!
Thanks Elona, glad you find my work pleasing! You might want to have a look at learning.mrbelshaw.co.uk/blogs (although it's still in its infancy…)
Thanks for the link to your class blog.