31 Days To Better Blogging Project – Day 1
In a timely way, one of my goals for 2009 was to improve my blogging and find a 30 days to better blogging project, and the same day I hear about the 31 Days Project that has just started (I think I’m a few days behind, but that’s okay). I’m torn between doing the beginners and the intermediate project – I think I need something in the middle, but I’ll start with the Intermediate and see how it goes.
“The task for the first day of the 31 Days to Building a Better Blog Challenge is to email a new reader of your blog.”
Because this is a new blog (about 3 days old), this may be a little difficult as I have had only one person comment on my posts (thanks Sue) and I really don’t want to burden her – she’s already done so much to get me this far. So I don’t have to call on Sue, maybe you could comment on my post so that I can achieve the first task.
One of my reasons for blogging is to use it for professional growth and to have conversations about education and educational growth with others.
Earleir today, catching up on some blog feeds via Feedly I read Graham Wegner’s post titled “The 37 And A 1/2 Hours Sham“. Graham talks about the SA Education Department’s policy that requires teachers to do 37.5 hours of PD during the year in order to finish when students do. If they haven’t done the time, then they have to do other duties during the first week of the summer vacation. Because the Department is such a large bureaucracy, the degree of inequity in what teachers do for their 37.5 hours is high and in some cases laughable.
Luckily, I am not in the same system, though I am in the same state and while my school has some very good and generous policies regarding professional development, there is little accountability. I’d really like to see staff being encouraged to blog as a reflective practice and a professional conversation.
I’m hoping that in participating in this project, I can further my professional practice and help staff in my school do the same.
January 11th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
The whole idea of PD (CPD in the UK) needs reviewing and I think that is happening in some ways. The conclusion is going to be some kind of online network or blog or community. But this is going to be a long time in the making.
If I were a Headteacher, I think I might use your idea and ask my staff to create a blog detailing their PD for the year, or their time at that school. It is a great starting place for accountability. Currently, it seems to me, thousands of pounds are wasted each year on little day trips with nice lunches. But even where the PD courses are good it would be excellent practice to see a blog post about what was learnt and how it might help others in the school etc.
Target achieved! Keep posting.
[Reply]
January 11th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Welcome to the blogosphere, Colin. I’m participating in the 30 Days project too and I’ll definitely be adding your blog to my reading. It’s always great to get another perspective on what’s happening around the country (I’m in Queensland).
Good luck with it all
[Reply]
January 11th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
When I started blogging, I had no idea of the wonderful connections that I would make. I just used it as a journal, but soon there were some people actually commenting. This really motivated me on to continuing and now I use my blog for so much, including reflections. I have two, one is a personal blog mapping out my journey with web2.0 tools and the other is my teacher blog or class blog where I publish my lesson plans, reflect, add tutorials, leave my class instructions when I am away and gives me links to many of the resources that I use online.
In Victoria, we also have to complete a certain number of professional development days to maintain our VIT registration. I cannot remember the figure but it was quite demanding. The trouble with budget cutbacks means that the school is reluctant to allow time off but that is why I love all this online work and the fact that I can do PD while still in my home. Keep up the blogging – it is my favourite web2.0 tool. My students love it too.
[Reply]
January 11th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Hi Colin,
A few hours ago I came across the 31day Challenge and just a few minutes ago I received a tweet from Sue Waters about your blog and you doing the challenge. I am a teacher in a Catholic primary school in Sydney. Like you one of my professional goals is to use blogging to chart my growth in using technology. My professional blog is http://amandaattard.blogspot.com/ and I am going to start a class blog with my Year 1 class when school returns – http://1white.blogspot.com/
Good luck with your blog. I hope you achieve your goals. I look forward to reading about them – I’ve just subscribed to your blog. If you get a chance maybe you could check out my blog as well. I’m not doing the challenge – yet – but I could still complete the first task!
Amanda
[Reply]
January 11th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Hi Colin and welcome to the world of blogging!
I have only been blogging since May 2008 and still feel it is all very new to me. I was *very* reluctant to blog. “But I have nothing to say!” was my response when asked if I had a blog. I agree with you completely re the fact that blogging is such a valuable form of professional development. I have also found it so helpful in assisting other teachers to blog. I believe that everyone has something to say! I, too, was helped by wonderful people like @mrpbps and @suewaters and soon you will find yourself doing the same for others.
I would like to see *all* teachers with their own professional blog – ambitious maybe, but I believe it is such a wonderful tool for professional development. I only know of one Melbourne school where all teachers are required to blog – I applaud them!
Colin, you are already a wonderful contributor in Twitter – I have lost track of the number of times I’ve replied to you with “Thx Colin!”
All the very best with your blogging journey – you won’t be disappointed!
Lucy
[Reply]
January 12th, 2009 at 12:07 am
I work in the UK. Most of the exciting things I read about regarding blogs and blogging are in Australia and America (although I might just not have found the UK ones yet).
I think it would be great if we could get teachers to blog and to develop a PLN as part of their professional development. One of the ways in which we can do this is to provide good models so keep on blogging!
[Reply]
January 12th, 2009 at 1:04 am
Welcome to the blogosphere Colin! I am a new blogger as well and this 31 day challenge sounds interesting. Where can I find more info? If I missed the link, I apologize.
Best of luck with the challenge and ….blog on!
[Reply]
January 12th, 2009 at 6:19 am
Hello Colin, So far things seem to be going well at getting some feedback and responses. I always hope by making comments on other blogs it will increase my traffic as well. I suppose it depends on who you are contacting and setting up communication. Hopefully, I can be your link to Canada. I am technology coordinator in my school district and I am doing a similar project trying to inspire my traffic to my blog.
Good luck,
Ryan
[Reply]
January 12th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Hi Colin
Blogs are an interesting pondering. Lots to learn…so many to read…but we are the converted.
Following your idea about being used as a staff reflection tool – we are the minority. We both work in similar schools….many of my staff are still in fear of blogs….as the thoughts are ‘out there’. They are scared of their identity in cyberspace. We even tried an internal blog…but was then told they had no time.
I use my blog http://southozsue.blogspot.com/ and wiki http://southozsue.wikispaces.com/ as this is what I found out today to share with staff.
Good luck in blogosphere …I’ll be reading your posts
Cheers
Sooz
[Reply]
January 12th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Good luck with your blog. I found that it is easiest when you don’t fight it. Just write about what you know and think. Then it becomes second nature.
Have a great 2009.
[Reply]
January 12th, 2009 at 11:31 am
I agree with you that it would be great if all teachers at least got there toes wet in the blogging adventure:) It would be amazing to see the changes in education around the world if everyone had a PLN:)
Glad you joined our challenge~
Lisa
[Reply]
January 12th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Hi Colin. Welcome to the world of blogging. I am also in Adelaide and started blogging at the beginning of last year, but with a class blog. I have only recently set up a personal blog and hav yet to really get into that. I am doing the 31 day challenge too.
[Reply]
January 12th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Hi Dai,
Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to my blog. While this is not my first blog it is the first one that I have made intentionally to have ‘conversations’ with other people as well as to be reflective.
Prior to blogs being around I ran professional development sessions for primary teachers of mathematics where we encouraged the teachers to keep a journal about their maths teaching and to also encourage (and have) their students keep a maths journal. I would respond to the teachers’ entries and hopefully they would respond to their students’ writing and thinking. I believe it worked well.
If I was a Headteacher, I would encourage this but use blogging rather than a notebook.
Like you, I sometimes wonder about the one-off seasons that we go to. I think we often come back with one good idea (which seems to justify going), but I’m not convinced it makes for long term change.
Last year I went to NECC in San Antonia with a group of 30 Aussies as part of a study tour. Being together for almost two weeks was one of the most powerful professional journeys I have ever had and through it I was able to meet inspirational teachers like Jo McLeay and Judy O’Connell and through them many others.
Thanks again for assisting me to continue that journey.
Colin
[Reply]
January 12th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Hi Nic,
It seems that you are a few days ahead of me. I’m finding that just doing Day 1 is taking a great deal of time. (this is good – time put in means more that I get out of it)
Most of my teaching in recent years has been related to mathematics, though I do get to support teachers and classes in other areas. Over the past 9 months, most blogs that I have found to be full of great ideas have been ‘English’ blogs, so I’ll definitely be adding yours to my reader.
Good luck in the project, I’ll be keeping my eye on your progress and thank you for commenting on my blog.
Colin
[Reply]
January 12th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Hi Anne,
Thank you for commenting on my blog. Coincedentally, I actually have had your blog open in one of my tabs for the past week or so. I can’t recall where the link came from (someone in my great Twitter network) but I have it there and have been meaning to read it and to add it to my reader.
Over the past 7 months I have started to really value my online network (most of it via Twitter) and I’m hoping for the same with my blog. Like you I have an older blog which is more for my own benefit, where I can blog about web2 tools that I have found or used, or some things that I have tried. Unlike what I hope for this blog, it is not something that I update a lot, but it was of great use when I was on the Study tour to NECC.
Colin
[Reply]
January 13th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Hi Colin,
I am enjoying reading all of these comments on your blog from across the planet. I’ve learned more from reading people’s blogs and following their links, than in any professional development classes that I’ve had recently. What is even more fun is building a borderless community of teachers who support each other in learning and model the concept of lifelong learners.
[Reply]
January 13th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Hi Colin,
Love the idea of teachers blogging to record their PD activities. In Victoria we have to complete 100 hours of PD over 5 years to maintain our VIT registration, reading and reflection is considered a valid form of PD IF it is suitable recorded – what better way than a blog!
My blog has been sadly neglected while I have been in Vietnam, it’s probably a month since I posted anything. Your post has inspired me to check out this 31 day challenge…it might be just what I need to get motivated again – thanks!
Heather
[Reply]
January 13th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Hi Colin,
Just want to know your thoughts on each individual blog having a blog roll in the sidebar for a list of the participant’s names and blogs.
do you think this is better kept as private information?
Regards, Bill Oldham
http://www.kew.hotkey.net.au
http://0woldham9schoolblogsin2009.blogspot.com/
[Reply]
January 13th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Hi Amanda,
I think that starting a blog with your Year 1 is amazing. I’m sure they’ll love it. I will enjoy seeing how it goes so that I can show the JP teachers at my school what is possible even with young students.
I have read your blog and I look forward to reading more.
Thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog.
Colin
[Reply]
January 13th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Hi Lucy,
I am very humbled by your comments and I really appreciate them.
How can we get teachers to use blogs as part of their professional practice without resorting to making it compulsory? (rhetoric questions – but feel free to answer it)
History shows, that as soon as something is made compulsory, it seems that many don’t want to do it or they devalue the process by the tokenism they put into it.
So, we need to find clever ways to encourage and support staff so that they think ‘wow, what a great idea, I’d like to try that”.
And, I think to do that, we need administrators who understand about IT and 21st Century learning and know how to ‘encourage’ and get the best out of their staff – and they support them with time.
Colin
[Reply]
January 13th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Hi Colin,
I just joined the 31 days challenge and enjoy reading your blog. I find raine22’s comments above “I’ve learned more from reading people’s blogs and following their links, than in any professional development classes that I’ve had recently” very interesting. It looks as though you are further down the track than I am, but I look forward to some collaboration.
Paul
[Reply]
January 14th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Colin -
I have completed four days of the 31 days challenge. Found your website by searching for other education blogs. I like the color scheme and layout of your blog.
I started the quest for more eduational technology information since being “appointed” to our district technology visioning committee. We are in the process of going to referrendum to obtain needed funds for the advancement of technology in our district. I realized that I have used a great deal of technology in my classroom as an algebra, pre-algebra, and social studies teacher. I now have assembled all of the websites that I have used and continue to find to use in my classroom into a blog! It has been so valuable to put down in words how I use web 2.0 websites. Not just for me, but for fellow educators!
Thanks again for a great blog to read! I look forward to learning from your writings!
RecessDuty
http://www.recessduty.wordpress.com goPlay!
[Reply]
January 14th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Hi Alijoy,
Thank you for commenting on my blog and helping me with the 31 days project.
There does seem to be a lot happening here and in the USA to do with blogs, but I have also come across a number of blogs from the UK that are really good.
Perhaps you guys are too busy developing IWB things – I know you seem to be quite a long way ahead of us in that area.
I looked at your blog and you have some great posts that I have added to my delicious account.
Thanks again!
[Reply]
January 14th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Hi Ed,
Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog.
The 31 days to better blogging can be found here: http://31daychallenge.wikispaces.com
I would definitely give it the thumbs-up.
[Reply]
January 14th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Hi Lisa,
I am so greatful that you have organised the 31 day project. It is a wonderful way to develop my blog and my PLN.
Colin
[Reply]
January 14th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
[...] teacher commenting on Colin’s blog said “I’ve learned more from reading people’s blogs and following their links, than in any [...]
January 15th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for your comment. It’s always great to hear from another Adelaideian. I’m hoping that this blog will continue to develop thanks to the 31 days project and look forward to having further conversations with you.
Colin
[Reply]
January 15th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Hi raine22,
I am really enjoying the time over the past few weeks reading a large number of blogs. Through this project I am finding it worthwhile to comment on other blogs and really value all the comments made here. I will really miss the extra time I have when I head back to school in just over a week.
Colin
[Reply]
January 15th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Hi Heather,
Thank you for reading and commenting and also for your advice re taking children to Vietnam (from twitter). I think doing 100 hours of PD over 5 years is potentially good, but not sure if it enough. For bloggers (and Twitterers) I thnk you could get the 100 in a matter of weeks. The trouble with making it compulsory is that it gets devalued by those who do not see the need and don’t really put in to get anything out. In some ways making blogging part of the PD process may actually force those who are disinterested to become more interested – it’s hard to keep up the pretence over time if you really don’t see the need.
Colin
[Reply]
January 15th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Hi Paul,
Yes, it was a great comment by raine22 and I think she’s right. I’m still not ready to move on to Day 2 yet, so you’ll probably be ahead of me soon.
I hope you are enjoying (I really mean finding it rewarding) the project as much as I am.
I’m sure I’ll be ’seeing’ you more over the 31 days.
Colin
[Reply]
January 15th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Hi Recessduty,
Thanks for commenting on my blog – I really appreciate it.
It must be a difficult situation when you have to lobby to increase technology funding.
I guess in a much smaller way, I lobby our administrators each year when it is time to submit budgets – arguing for why we need this and what we plan to do with it. But, going to referrendum seems like a lot of work. Isn’t there an easier system that could be put into place? (Or maybe that is a good system – have to admit my knowledge of this is zero and I’m just guessing.) Good luck, I hope your ref is passed and you can develop the technology further.
Colin
[Reply]
January 16th, 2009 at 7:21 am
Hi Sue,
I agree that teachers frequently say “we don’t have time” and I tend to agree that they don’t. But, they also don’t make any (much) time to pursue blogging (or other IT related tools) to improve their professional learning or to enhance their delivery of the curriculum. Sure, there are things happening, but it is slow going. And, I guess, this is to be expected. Change is difficult. But, if they only knew how exciting their students would find it and how brilliant collaborating with others can be . . . One day.
Colin
[Reply]
January 16th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Hi Bill,
For some reason your comment was blocked for a few days – not sure why. Anyway, thanks for reading and commenting. Given that the list of people doing the 31 day challenge is growing, I think it may get a little messey having a blogroll for the participants – but it is certainly worth thinking about. I know I have added most to my rss feeder (and will add others as I find them) and I have the link to the project wiki in my blogroll.
You’re certainly up and running with the challenge – well done!
I’d be really pleased to get on from Day 1 and I think I will today – and I might even do Day 3 as well.
Colin
[Reply]
January 16th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Colin -
Just completed Day 5 and Day 6 of 31 day challenge. Finding I can’t do consecutive days but pick up with the next day when I can.
Response to your comments: We do get a yearly budget that allows some allocation for technology through state and government funding. This only goes so far. A referendum asks tax payers to fit the bill for LARGE improvements. This is the ONLY way we can build schools, build athletic facilities, and purchase LARGE technology items. Of course, their are the donations from people but those are few and far between.
Hope this clarifies a referendum.
RecessDuty
http://www.recessduty.wordpress.com goPlay!
[Reply]