I like reading other people's blogs, discovering people's inner thoughts. I have always admired people whose blogs attract people's attention, make people want to follow it day by day. It is just like watching a soap opera, you peep into someone's life.
But I have always thought that blogging is not for me... No, no. For several reasons: 1. A quotation I read many many years ago rings in my ears "Only fools trust their thoughts, personal lives to diaries" and well blogs are a kind of a diary. 2. I don't think I can write so creatively. 3. I don't have time to be bothered about it and etc. etc.
On the other hand I am much aware of the value of reflective writing in learning and teaching, and as a teacher trainer I always recommend it to teachers. But not to myself...
Therefore I was trying to pospone the day when I will actually create the one. Almost the whole week, I looked through Donna's instructions, visited several blogs of the participants but did not dare to create my own. I have noted that Tariq found some themes in the Internet so I should search as well. I have also noted that Sebnem is quite an experience blogger, so I need to learn from her.
But today I decided today or never, otherwise I will fail the course.
Started following Donna's instructions first, but then the instructions on the site were self-explanotary. Good thing is that I like reading the instructions and following them! So that was very easy! Now I am looking forward to making it more attractive and will think how to motivate other teachers use blogs.
But here is a question that worries me: Who do you write your blogs? To yourself? or to others? Or to both? In each case I think the perspective, the content, the language changes.
Ok, let's try to write it to both to me (so that I can return to my notes later) and to others (this means I will have to try to organise my thoughts in a neatly way).
Reflecting on the week, I can say that I am happy that the course has started. This is my first experience of participating in an on-line course. So I am trying to adapt to the new environment. I liked several things:
1. I liked Donna sending us clear instructions and regular reminders on what should be done by when.
2. liked my course participants, they are from diverse countries, cultures, contexts. I look forward to making good friends with them.
3. I liked Nicenet, it is a simple but very handy tool for group communication. I really liked that each class can get their key to access the specific discussion. I should try that out with my class.
4. I flagged my country on the class map. Though first I couldn't find where I can write the comment and just wrote short sentence and it was saved. I couldn't delete it or edit it, so I created a new comment. Ah, one more thing, I am from Tashkent, Uzbekistan but currently in Cairo, Egypt staying with my husband. So when I visited Tariq's website it showed that someone from Cairo is visiting! I should have confused people. But I don't know how to deal with that! I think I should announce everybody that I will be accessing from Cairo.
5. I have read the ground rules and commented on the Nicenet.
6. I really liked the rubricks for the discussion comments. Actually I have never thought that we need criteria for that, but yes, that is very useful and necessary.
From my experience so far and the recommendations from the previous course participants I have noted several points:
1. I have to be more active, write more comments (of course excellent ones :)) as I have discovered they will be assessed.
2. I should try to do the tasks as soon as possible, otherwise I have to read everybody's comments! Like it happened in Nicenet introductions, I had to spend about an hour only for reading the introductions before I posted mine.
3. Everyday I will have to devote at least an hour or two and follow all the news, posts etc.
4. I should start thinking of the final project.
Ok, looking forward to the next week tasks!
But I have always thought that blogging is not for me... No, no. For several reasons: 1. A quotation I read many many years ago rings in my ears "Only fools trust their thoughts, personal lives to diaries" and well blogs are a kind of a diary. 2. I don't think I can write so creatively. 3. I don't have time to be bothered about it and etc. etc.
On the other hand I am much aware of the value of reflective writing in learning and teaching, and as a teacher trainer I always recommend it to teachers. But not to myself...
Therefore I was trying to pospone the day when I will actually create the one. Almost the whole week, I looked through Donna's instructions, visited several blogs of the participants but did not dare to create my own. I have noted that Tariq found some themes in the Internet so I should search as well. I have also noted that Sebnem is quite an experience blogger, so I need to learn from her.
But today I decided today or never, otherwise I will fail the course.
Started following Donna's instructions first, but then the instructions on the site were self-explanotary. Good thing is that I like reading the instructions and following them! So that was very easy! Now I am looking forward to making it more attractive and will think how to motivate other teachers use blogs.
But here is a question that worries me: Who do you write your blogs? To yourself? or to others? Or to both? In each case I think the perspective, the content, the language changes.
Ok, let's try to write it to both to me (so that I can return to my notes later) and to others (this means I will have to try to organise my thoughts in a neatly way).
Reflecting on the week, I can say that I am happy that the course has started. This is my first experience of participating in an on-line course. So I am trying to adapt to the new environment. I liked several things:
1. I liked Donna sending us clear instructions and regular reminders on what should be done by when.
2. liked my course participants, they are from diverse countries, cultures, contexts. I look forward to making good friends with them.
3. I liked Nicenet, it is a simple but very handy tool for group communication. I really liked that each class can get their key to access the specific discussion. I should try that out with my class.
4. I flagged my country on the class map. Though first I couldn't find where I can write the comment and just wrote short sentence and it was saved. I couldn't delete it or edit it, so I created a new comment. Ah, one more thing, I am from Tashkent, Uzbekistan but currently in Cairo, Egypt staying with my husband. So when I visited Tariq's website it showed that someone from Cairo is visiting! I should have confused people. But I don't know how to deal with that! I think I should announce everybody that I will be accessing from Cairo.
5. I have read the ground rules and commented on the Nicenet.
6. I really liked the rubricks for the discussion comments. Actually I have never thought that we need criteria for that, but yes, that is very useful and necessary.
From my experience so far and the recommendations from the previous course participants I have noted several points:
1. I have to be more active, write more comments (of course excellent ones :)) as I have discovered they will be assessed.
2. I should try to do the tasks as soon as possible, otherwise I have to read everybody's comments! Like it happened in Nicenet introductions, I had to spend about an hour only for reading the introductions before I posted mine.
3. Everyday I will have to devote at least an hour or two and follow all the news, posts etc.
4. I should start thinking of the final project.
Ok, looking forward to the next week tasks!
Nodira,
ReplyDeleteWhat a graphic representation of your learning experience! What a detailed story with minute observation! You've videotaped your moments! Not many have such a talent! I wish I could remember half as much!
Muhammad Rashid
To Nodira,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on creating your blog! It looks wonderful.
To answer your question, primarily your blog is a place for self-reflection on what you're learning and doing in this course. You can also post general questions, comments, links, etc. to share with everyone (you can also do that on Nicenet as well). If you have a specific question for someone, you can post a comment on their blog.
I hope you enjoy reflecting on your blog during this course.
Donna
Thanks Donna!
ReplyDeleteI very much appreciate the value of blogs in learning but I was wondering who is the audience while writing blogs? Do people write to themselves or they try to attract other's attention as well? If I write to myself only, I wouldn't care about the organisation, mechanics, grammar etc. But when you are aware that others will read it, you start writing anyway a bit differently. In that sense writing in blogs (by the way, is it the right collocation, writing in blogs?) is very interesting and not much researched in terms of linguistics!
Dear Nodira
ReplyDeleteHere are my thoughts:
Blogging has multiple audience with different needs and expectations.
The scope of Internet linguistics is increasing day by day: http://www.davidcrystal.com/DC_articles/Internet2.pdf
I think 'writing blog' is more appropriate collocation. When in doubt about collocation, I use one of the following online corpora:
corpus.byu.edu/coca/
www.natcorp.ox.ac.uk/
Regards!
Muhammad Rashid
Hello Nodira,
ReplyDeleteWhile reading your thoughts I can say that I was having the same thoughts in the beginning..
I was asking myself how will I be able to cope with so much of new techniques.
Blogging is becoming easier day by day.I am getting used to it by exploring it daily. Its really an efficient tool as far as teaching and learning is concerned.I like to go to Nicenet, which is more user friendly.
Looking forward for next week's challenging tasks.
Best of luck.
Regards
Shavila
Hi Nodira
ReplyDeleteYour post has good insights and thought process about the course. Yes, I, as teacher, value your comments for they are the reflection your assessment. Moreover this is how a teacher improves his/her teaching which is through feedback and introspection.
I agree that Reflective writing surely pays off for the teachers. Teacher can transform his/her teaching through writing. As a teacher, reflecting writing has brought a sea change in me. Previously, I was sage on the stage so my students' progress didn't look up. When I brought some autonomy in the class, the results were surprising.
Now through this course, I have got the inspiration for using blog writing in my class. What about you, Nodira? What are your plans for the class? I would be glad to read that.
Tariq Hayat