A Severe case of “Bloaty Head”
They say that the best way to get hooked on gambling is to win big when you first start out. I guess I am becoming hooked on blogging!
Within 10 days of setting up my first blog, I have had comments from Alan November (Guru). I have also been “advertised” by David Muir, suggesting that I might become recommended reading for his PGCE students, and Ewan and John have passed my name to the editor of the GTCS magazine “Teaching Scotland”. Cheers Guys. J
10 days ago I was wondering if I would have anything worth while to say to a global blog audience. I guess I do have something to say after all (although I cant guarantee it will always be worth reading). This has been both a humbling and an encouraging 10 days. Working where I do has given me a real chance to explore some of the big issues of using ICT, both from a class teacher perspective, and as a manager of the schools ICT – it has been good to start sharing this with a wider audience. The last few days have helped me realise that perhaps the purpose of my blog should be as a way of reflecting on what I see, do and think about education, and in particular the role of ICT in education. It can be hard to find time to “reflect” on ones own work, or on the good practice of colleagues when we are all so short of time. Hopefully by making these reflections public, they can be a catalyst for other people thoughts and creativity, and allow others (wiser or more insightful than I) to correct or steer my own thinking. (By the way bloaty head is a medical condition found in my wifes fav. computer game - Theme Hospital)
OK Waffle over. Here is an “Alan November Style” question for you…..
Why do you blog? What purpose? Is it selfish or altruistic? Who is your audience?
Why do you blog?
What purpose?
Different reasons different blogs. One is a notice board, my Sandaig blog is more of a notebook and trying things with the blog (templates, content etc) that might be useful on my school/class blogs
Is it selfish or altruistic?
Well one of my main reasons for blogging is to get an audience for the school/class blogs and work on ideas I can user there. so probably ’selfish in an altruistic way’ or vice versa.
Who is your audience?
Hopefully teachers interested in blogging, podcasting and such.
Well anyone who is interested in the same sort of thing as me and the serendipitous.
Looking at the google search stings on our server’s logs is an interesting game, indicating we get listed in some fairly strange searches eg: ‘we sleekit burns’ or ‘doing you hair like violet baudelaire’ have turned up this month.
I think there are two main ways that teachers use blogs. The first, as you describe, is the desire to share thoughts and ideas on education. The second, as John describes, is the desire to give children an audience for their work.
The audience is currently the problem as the audience for bloggers seems to be other bloggers and the blogs can become cliquey and self-referential.
Attracting an audience for the CONTENT of a blog, not just because it is a blog, is a major challenge.