I've been reading other peoples' blogs for a few weeks now. I find it fascinating how many teachers are posting. Had a wee look at Bebo with Sid today.Why do people blog? Why do they have their own websites and pages?I think it must be something to do with our need to communicate.Does make me wonder if modern life has suppressed our ability to talk about life -and all this blogging and posting is a response to that.How obsessive do you have to be to run a blog? The first time I heard about it I thought it sounded sort of narcissistic and well... sad. But I've found blogs make good reading.The styles are different. Some bloggers sound thoughtful and considered. Some are 'knee jerk' reactors. Some are strident, some are apologetic.My question for today is: Do the comments other people write actually change the opinions of the bloggers? In other words is a blog an un- dramatic monologue or a genuine attempt at dialogue?What do you think?
2 comments:
Dialogue, defintely, and more. I'm a teacher who's involved in helping run East Lothian's Exc-el web site (http://www.exc-el.org.uk), which includes a large number of blogs. I notice, for example:
- new ideas sparking (one blogger posts a problem, another has already solved it)
- new connections being made, leading to "off-line" networks developing
- a sense of community developing amongst teachers in different schools and sectors
- we've even had "vigorous debate"! (see, for example http://www.jonesieboy.co.uk/blog/2006/10/04/activote-walkthrough-part-1, which generated over 50 comments!
Bottom line is they do change opinions!
David,
Encouraging thought! One of the things I'm just starting to find about blogs is that they allow genuine communication -of a kind I wouldn't have anticipated. People really do write honestly and helpfully to others. I can't imagine that happening so quickly or effectively at a 'real world' (as opposed to virtual world) conference or meeting.
I like to think that writing is a purer form of communication...
Thanks for posting. Hope to get some advice from you on student blogging soon, David!
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