Reflections of a crazed educationalist
Well, we’re certainly in the thick of it now.
Mmmm, blogging.
You begin like the bible says; at creation. And let me tell you it did have its challenges. Okay, okay, now don’t go throwing any tomatoes or anything but I admit I did have help from a “digital native”.
Come on, isn’t that part of the learning experience?
Anyway, after the initial build and the pressure was off, I had time to orientate myself around. I was clicking here and pressing there and basically just fooling around. I changed the layout a dozen times and altered the backing design to something that I felt represented me. And yes, I made plenty of mistakes but I learnt from them and I can honestly say it was the first time I was having a bit of fun with it all.
What was that? Did I hear someone mention, Constructivism. Indeed there are elements of Constructivist Theory. Somebody give that kid a Fredo.
Next came the hard part, the posting of one’s blogs. Technically all was good but the sharing of my thoughts and ramblings, class exercises and the like is, for me, difficult. I prefer a more intimate form of communication, a chat over the phone or the flick of an email. I’ve never really taken to the whole social networking thing. The “putting one’s self out there” is rather intimidating and let’s face it, once it’s there, it’s there.
Censorship or should I say self-censorship is another issue. You see, I don’t believe you can you really be “authentic” when you know you are possibly sharing, photos, thoughts, emotions, weaknesses, loves, lies and lusts, with god knows how many others. Then, after laying yourself bare, the public has an opportunity to comment on or, more truthfully, judge you and your life by the few shreds of detail you care to share. On reflection, the aesthetic appeal of the site is how you are perceived as a person. One though could say that it’s simply a reflection of how life really is.
You see, for me this has been a journey in itself.
In terms of learning and students, I believe that by creating a blog they would develop their creativity and imagination. Through exercises related to subject matter their written skills would be enhanced as they would, research, evaluate and then compose their work. As individuals it would allow them to explore and develop aspects of themselves that they may have struggled with or not even have looked at before. Growth on a personal level is as important as an educational level.
