Embarking on blogging

cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by julie gibbons

To be honest, I'm blogging because someone has told me I have to.  There is irony in this as I have become a strong advocate of classroom blogging and failed to walk-the-talk, what I am usually most proud of in my classroom.  Our 6th graders set up blogs to track their progress through our Global Connections course and now my digital art students are using blogs to journal their creative process.  I did start a blog for teachers at our school this year with technology tidbits but it was put on hold when our IT department said they were developing an intranet.  I'm still waiting.  I do have a demo blog going for my art students but it is a place I show best practices as many of them have never blogged before.

Last week I woke up at 3am to join a webinar for my first ever Flat Classroom experience.  I am enrolled in their course to become and certified Flat Classroom Teacher. Waking up at 3am, such old school thinking, but I was just so excited.  It does however back up what I have known for awhile (and what prompted me to take this course on) which is that I am using technology to replace my old 'acoustic' ways but my actual teaching practices have been slower to develop.  I am proud of the digital presence in my classrooms but not satisfied with the slower evolution to connection, collaboration and self discovery that my students would benefit from.

Welcome as I journey through the course which will hopefully not end with the last assignment but  propel me further in my teaching from then on.