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… :D

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! :D