Weblog Thoughts

Regardless of your preferred word choice, blogs have the potential to globalize education. It offers students the freedom to learn, which is at the heart of life-long learning. Ask students (and yourselves) "What is important to you? Search the blogs and engage in the discussion online." This is what students should be encouraged.

Weblog or Blog? You can decide, which term you prefer. I kind of like the original term. The "OT" if you dare.

Without blogs I wouldn't have found this inspirational Prezi on 21st Century learning. I wouldn't have found "techy" suggestions for the classroom like 11 Techy Things for Teachers to Try This Year or the 30-Day Challenge. Both inspired me to implement Web 2.0 tools within the classroom. In addition, I offered students the option to create projects online. Blogging is truly a game changer, and places learning into the student's hands. Blogging can be intimidating; yet, it is more accessible than many teachers would think. I encourage all teachers to attempt their own blog. Then, try to include your students in the blog. Again, creating a blog can be scary, but like Nike says, "Just Do It!"

Blog List

Here's a list of various Blogs I have been reading and I found worth some attention. Hopefully, you find them educationally inspiring or just interesting.

• November Learning Blog
• 21st Century Fluency Project
• Cool Cat Teacher
• 2 Cents Worth
• Pencil Integration
• Richard Byrne’s Free Technology for Teachers
• Education 395 Playground
• For the Love of Learning
• Learning is Life
• TED
• The Innovative Educator
• Teacher Reboot Camp
• Ms. Naugle

At the end of the day, I really enjoyed writing and learning with this blog. It has been an eye-opening experience. From writing my posts and reading others, I have been synthesizing my own learning materials to share with other teachers. Engaging in higher order forms of cognition has left me addicted to the free information floating within other professionals' blogs. I can now relate to tall haired Team-Edward fans or a Justin Beiber fans. I don't have Beiber-fever; I have blogger-fever. We'll see how long it lasts, but momentarily it is engages my once idle mind.