Comments on: 8 things that irritate me with edublogs http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/ ...Doug Belshaw's teaching-related blog: news, resources and ideas for busy teachers! Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:19:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: siobhan curious http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-59883 siobhan curious Sun, 19 Aug 2007 19:30:11 +0000 http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-59883 Interesting. If I thought that blogging was always about "letting off steam," I guess I'd agree with you. But I think it's entirely possible to be a member of a community under an assumed name. I don't imagine it matters much to the person reading my blog regularly in Saudi Arabia what my actual name is. I hope that the content of my ideas, experiences and reflections is what matters. That being said, I fully support your right to be annoyed!

Interesting. If I thought that blogging was always about “letting off steam,” I guess I’d agree with you. But I think it’s entirely possible to be a member of a community under an assumed name. I don’t imagine it matters much to the person reading my blog regularly in Saudi Arabia what my actual name is. I hope that the content of my ideas, experiences and reflections is what matters.

That being said, I fully support your right to be annoyed!

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-59767 Doug Belshaw Sat, 18 Aug 2007 17:12:08 +0000 http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-59767 <strong>@Dave:</strong> About time! ;) <strong>@Siobhan:</strong> Why don't I like anonymous blogging? Because if you want to let off steam without everyone knowing you can write it in your diary. Despite what Miguel says, blogging is as much about the community as what you have to say. You can't be an anonymous member of a community... @Dave: About time! ;)

@Siobhan: Why don’t I like anonymous blogging? Because if you want to let off steam without everyone knowing you can write it in your diary. Despite what Miguel says, blogging is as much about the community as what you have to say. You can’t be an anonymous member of a community…

]]> By: siobhan curious http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-59766 siobhan curious Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:49:33 +0000 http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-59766 This is a thought-provoking list, and I agree with a lot of these. I'm interested in your beef with anonymity, though, and when I trolled the comments, I didn't get a sense of why you have an issue with it. I and many teachers blog anonymously in order to protect the privacy of our students and colleagues - I wouldn't want students reading my blog and thinking, "Hey, I remember when that happened, and that's what she really thought about that **** kid who caused that problem!" In order to blog as honestly as possible, and to engage in self-examination without too much self-consciousness, anonymity can be very helpful. http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/ This is a thought-provoking list, and I agree with a lot of these. I’m interested in your beef with anonymity, though, and when I trolled the comments, I didn’t get a sense of why you have an issue with it. I and many teachers blog anonymously in order to protect the privacy of our students and colleagues - I wouldn’t want students reading my blog and thinking, “Hey, I remember when that happened, and that’s what she really thought about that **** kid who caused that problem!” In order to blog as honestly as possible, and to engage in self-examination without too much self-consciousness, anonymity can be very helpful.

http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/

]]> By: dave cormier http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-59708 dave cormier Sat, 18 Aug 2007 02:57:43 +0000 http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-59708 well doug... you got me to clear up some stuff on my blog. Damn you Belshaw! last thing i needed was more work :P well doug… you got me to clear up some stuff on my blog. Damn you Belshaw! last thing i needed was more work :P

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-59005 Doug Belshaw Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:39:31 +0000 http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-59005 <p><strong>@Christian:</strong> OK, OK. We all accept the point that insights can be made by non-practitioners. I (and probably others) just get frustrated when things are painted in such a simplistic fashion by 'outsiders'... :)</p> <p><strong>@Marco Polo:</strong> Perhaps, but it's best to cater to the majority and give flexibility. </p> <p><strong>@Nick:</strong> Why not? You know what <em>not</em> to do now... ;) </p> @Christian: OK, OK. We all accept the point that insights can be made by non-practitioners. I (and probably others) just get frustrated when things are painted in such a simplistic fashion by 'outsiders'… :)

@Marco Polo: Perhaps, but it's best to cater to the majority and give flexibility. 

@Nick: Why not? You know what not to do now… ;) 

]]> By: Nick Dennis http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-58884 Nick Dennis Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:42:29 +0000 http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-58884 Hmmm. There is no way I'm going to start a blog after this! :) Hmmm. There is no way I'm going to start a blog after this! :)

]]> By: Marco Polo http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-58614 Marco Polo Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:59:32 +0000 http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-58614 <a href="http://www.michaelhaislip.com/join-the-experiment-how-does-your-personality-type-affect-your-blog/" rel="nofollow">People blog for different reasons:  </a> Live and let live. Also, some prefer the "short" RSS feed: each blog entry takes up less space and you can quickly scan the few lines and decide if you want to read the whole thing or not. Google's new offline reader thingy might be just the ticket for some folks.  People blog for different reasons:   Live and let live. Also, some prefer the "short" RSS feed: each blog entry takes up less space and you can quickly scan the few lines and decide if you want to read the whole thing or not. Google's new offline reader thingy might be just the ticket for some folks. 

]]> By: something there is that loves a list | ablog http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-58540 something there is that loves a list | ablog Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:58:05 +0000 http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-58540 [...] Mr. Belshaw asks what irritates about edubloggers. Here’s my list: [...] […] Mr. Belshaw asks what irritates about edubloggers. Here’s my list: […]

]]> By: So you want to start a blog? | G.R.A.C.E. Writes http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-58520 So you want to start a blog? | G.R.A.C.E. Writes Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:31:18 +0000 http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-58520 [...] to let you know how I discovered this nugget. I first read the qouted blog entry and went to the orginal entry. I read the comments of the orginal entry which led me to the post I am commenting on. I have not [...] […] to let you know how I discovered this nugget. I first read the qouted blog entry and went to the orginal entry. I read the comments of the orginal entry which led me to the post I am commenting on. I have not […]

]]> By: Christian Long http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-58498 Christian Long Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:48:49 +0000 http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/08/03/8-things-that-irritate-me-with-edublogs/#comment-58498 Doug: Everything comes down to the thesis, I believe.  We often get wrapped up in tactics and evidence when we should be really nailing down our underlying argument. With regards to being "in the classroom", it is vital to establish what we are trying to lay claim to as bloggers.  If one is focused on the day-to-day interaction with students, it makes sense to discredit those who are not grading papers each day.  If one is focused on systemic change, it makes sense to in some odd way to discredit those who are only in the classroom grading papers one day.  Or, if one is a bit more human on both accounts, it behooves us to seek both types of 'insights' (and all that lies between them) at the end of the day...not to force people into one camp or the other. For me, it is about 'learning' by any means necessary, from all sources and stakeholders, and from all professional vantage points.  I am not interested in locking into ONE type of voice, nor in down-playing their strengths because they don't have red-ink on their hands in the last 24 hours.   On a common sense and philosophical level, it is fair to say that anyone who steps away from any domain loses 'touch' with the details.  A life truism, not just a teaching nod.  At the same time, perspective -- by its very natures -- demands multiple points of view to remain relevant.  Yes, relevant.  The oft-used 'in the trenches' disclaimer can be lofty, profound, healthy, and down-right naive depending on how diverse the user's experiences are as an 'educator'.   The irony for many tech-enthusiasts who teach and love the 2.0 tool shift is that if we divided those who 'use' from those who do 'not', nothing would change.  If we spend all of our time down-playing the value of those who do not blog or podcast (et al), then we'd see very little change at the end of the day.  Same thing if we divide into those who are today 'in the trenches' and those who are gathering 'insights' from a distance into 2 camps.  Again, nothing changes systemically, nothing changes in our own professional acumen, and nothing changes in the way we see/think as individuals on this planet. Personally, every voice I consider is my reality check.  It is up to me to weave them into a larger truth, not to demand that they replicate an experience I am having in full or part. All that being said, you also know what commitment I've made recently in terms of choosing to return to a teacher's life.  By no means minimizing the importance of what that will do for me in the coming months/years as a blogger. But also not willing to wave too large a flag of professional importance just because I'll be back in front of a blackboard again...or at least not demand that my fellow bloggers who consult, speak, manage, admin, research, or write in lieu of full-time teaching should feel sheepish for their contributions or their POV's. Again, thanks for pushing my thinking.  Keep on keepin' on, as the good Reverend Bob Dylan reminds us. Cheers, Christian  Doug: Everything comes down to the thesis, I believe. 
We often get wrapped up in tactics and evidence when we should be really nailing down our underlying argument. With regards to being "in the classroom", it is vital to establish what we are trying to lay claim to as bloggers.  If one is focused on the day-to-day interaction with students, it makes sense to discredit those who are not grading papers each day.  If one is focused on systemic change, it makes sense to in some odd way to discredit those who are only in the classroom grading papers one day.  Or, if one is a bit more human on both accounts, it behooves us to seek both types of 'insights' (and all that lies between them) at the end of the day…not to force people into one camp or the other.
For me, it is about 'learning' by any means necessary, from all sources and stakeholders, and from all professional vantage points.  I am not interested in locking into ONE type of voice, nor in down-playing their strengths because they don't have red-ink on their hands in the last 24 hours.  

On a common sense and philosophical level, it is fair to say that anyone who steps away from any domain loses 'touch' with the details.  A life truism, not just a teaching nod.  At the same time, perspective — by its very natures — demands multiple points of view to remain relevant.  Yes, relevant.  The oft-used 'in the trenches' disclaimer can be lofty, profound, healthy, and down-right naive depending on how diverse the user's experiences are as an 'educator'.  
The irony for many tech-enthusiasts who teach and love the 2.0 tool shift is that if we divided those who 'use' from those who do 'not', nothing would change.  If we spend all of our time down-playing the value of those who do not blog or podcast (et al), then we'd see very little change at the end of the day.  Same thing if we divide into those who are today 'in the trenches' and those who are gathering 'insights' from a distance into 2 camps.  Again, nothing changes systemically, nothing changes in our own professional acumen, and nothing changes in the way we see/think as individuals on this planet.
Personally, every voice I consider is my reality check.  It is up to me to weave them into a larger truth, not to demand that they replicate an experience I am having in full or part.
All that being said, you also know what commitment I've made recently in terms of choosing to return to a teacher's life.  By no means minimizing the importance of what that will do for me in the coming months/years as a blogger. But also not willing to wave too large a flag of professional importance just because I'll be back in front of a blackboard again…or at least not demand that my fellow bloggers who consult, speak, manage, admin, research, or write in lieu of full-time teaching should feel sheepish for their contributions or their POV's.
Again, thanks for pushing my thinking.  Keep on keepin' on, as the good Reverend Bob Dylan reminds us.
Cheers,
Christian 

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