Wow. I have not posted here in a long time. I think I'm still looking for an identity to this blog.
Here's a film by Graham Annable which was originally posted here and shared by my friend Ben.
Enjoy.
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Will Richardson Project: Administrators Who Blog
For my professional development goals as an instructional specialist and future school administrator, I am reading a few articles by Will Richardson and posting my thoughts here. Feel free to join the conversation in the comments. Administrators who blog: give administrators in your district online voices. District Administration - April 1, 2007
Summary: School administrators, particularly building principals, are faced with a growing number of issues. Blogging can help them process these issues and open their thinking to multiple perspectives. An audience of other administrators as well as students, teachers, and the community can help an administrator see solutions not normally found on one's own. Additionally, blogging can add to an aura of transparency not often found in schools. Despite these benefits and the growing use of blogs, too few administrators are utilizing this tool.
What I Think: As I work in various schools, it worries me that so many administrators are not participating in the learning process aside from running their respective buildings. Students and teachers are blogging, opening their discussions to outside perspectives. Principals should be doing the same.
I understand why this happens. Principals are bombarded with issues concerning building maintenance, personnel, curriculum, etc. Who has time for blogging with so many issues requiring their attention? That is specifically why they should blog. Draw from other administrators' experiences or consider the perspectives of staff, students, and families.
How does this help me with my work? This fits in with my work and professional development in two ways. First, I am always looking for angles in selling administration on the educational benefits of technology and the Internet. Second, my studies in earning an administrative certification fits with this sort of topic well. This idea of administrators blogging bridges my current work with my future work seamlessly.
Summary: School administrators, particularly building principals, are faced with a growing number of issues. Blogging can help them process these issues and open their thinking to multiple perspectives. An audience of other administrators as well as students, teachers, and the community can help an administrator see solutions not normally found on one's own. Additionally, blogging can add to an aura of transparency not often found in schools. Despite these benefits and the growing use of blogs, too few administrators are utilizing this tool.
What I Think: As I work in various schools, it worries me that so many administrators are not participating in the learning process aside from running their respective buildings. Students and teachers are blogging, opening their discussions to outside perspectives. Principals should be doing the same.
I understand why this happens. Principals are bombarded with issues concerning building maintenance, personnel, curriculum, etc. Who has time for blogging with so many issues requiring their attention? That is specifically why they should blog. Draw from other administrators' experiences or consider the perspectives of staff, students, and families.
How does this help me with my work? This fits in with my work and professional development in two ways. First, I am always looking for angles in selling administration on the educational benefits of technology and the Internet. Second, my studies in earning an administrative certification fits with this sort of topic well. This idea of administrators blogging bridges my current work with my future work seamlessly.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Um
I have not posted here in a while. Of course, I don't know that anyone even reads this blog. In an effort to keep up with all my blogs, I promise to post here at least once a week.
This post will start a string of posts having to do with the direction of public education. So, here goes nothing.
With the presidential election quickly approaching, I wonder what will happen to public schools. For the first time I can remember, both major party candidates are talking about funding for charter schools. I can't say that I blame them. Public schools are failing. The best innovation in schooling is happening in places like New Orleans where charter schools are filling a void.
I'm not thrilled about the deterioration of our public education system, but after being outside of schools for a year, I'm ready for things to change.
What do you think? Are charter schools now just an inevitability? Are public schools doomed?
This post will start a string of posts having to do with the direction of public education. So, here goes nothing.
With the presidential election quickly approaching, I wonder what will happen to public schools. For the first time I can remember, both major party candidates are talking about funding for charter schools. I can't say that I blame them. Public schools are failing. The best innovation in schooling is happening in places like New Orleans where charter schools are filling a void.
I'm not thrilled about the deterioration of our public education system, but after being outside of schools for a year, I'm ready for things to change.
What do you think? Are charter schools now just an inevitability? Are public schools doomed?
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Mystery
Anonymity and privacy does not really exist on the Internet these days. Some of us still act like it does, but there are no mysteries on the World Wide Web anymore. And there is no better lesson we can teach students than to be mindful of this online transparency. Of course, teachers and educational professionals need to be aware of this in their own online activities as well.
It was recently reported that a local television station in Kansas City looked up the names of area teachers, mostly in their 20's, on popular social networking sites MySpace and Facebook. What they found were pictures of drunken debauchery and sexual content unbecoming of people who work with children. The teacher's naively thought that no one would discover their secret online personae. Boy, were they mistaken.
I am not immune from making poor choices on what to post on my various blogs. There will be no details shared for those voyeurs out there. Just understand that I made a mistake by posting information that I thought was harmless and undetectable when a simple Google search could have really compromised people I work with and for. Luckily, no major harm was done and I have a chance to learn from my mistakes and make things right.
The point is that educators need to be as careful online as we wish our students to be. I know of other teachers who blog or maintain social networking profiles that should keep these things in mind. The best way to teach young people is to be an example for them to follow.
I know that I'll be more careful in my own blogging. This blog once had a different focus (and URL) that was negative and not very constructive. Sure, I posted some good things on there, but there was a lot of negativity that wasn't helpful in any way.
So, as I make my first post on this new/old blog, I am considering how to make it as useful as possible. My goal is to post on an educational issue I encounter once a week. This could have to do with methodology, pedagogy, edtech, or administration, all areas in which I have great interest.
Whatever I post, I will strive to mindful of my audience and/or potential audience. I understand that as easy as it is for me to set up this blog, it is just as easy for anyone to read it and react. I want those reactions to be positive. I have to be aware that the mystery of the Internet and blogosphere are no more.
It was recently reported that a local television station in Kansas City looked up the names of area teachers, mostly in their 20's, on popular social networking sites MySpace and Facebook. What they found were pictures of drunken debauchery and sexual content unbecoming of people who work with children. The teacher's naively thought that no one would discover their secret online personae. Boy, were they mistaken.
I am not immune from making poor choices on what to post on my various blogs. There will be no details shared for those voyeurs out there. Just understand that I made a mistake by posting information that I thought was harmless and undetectable when a simple Google search could have really compromised people I work with and for. Luckily, no major harm was done and I have a chance to learn from my mistakes and make things right.
The point is that educators need to be as careful online as we wish our students to be. I know of other teachers who blog or maintain social networking profiles that should keep these things in mind. The best way to teach young people is to be an example for them to follow.
I know that I'll be more careful in my own blogging. This blog once had a different focus (and URL) that was negative and not very constructive. Sure, I posted some good things on there, but there was a lot of negativity that wasn't helpful in any way.
So, as I make my first post on this new/old blog, I am considering how to make it as useful as possible. My goal is to post on an educational issue I encounter once a week. This could have to do with methodology, pedagogy, edtech, or administration, all areas in which I have great interest.
Whatever I post, I will strive to mindful of my audience and/or potential audience. I understand that as easy as it is for me to set up this blog, it is just as easy for anyone to read it and react. I want those reactions to be positive. I have to be aware that the mystery of the Internet and blogosphere are no more.
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