Educational Blogsblog of proximal developmentPurpose of Blog I visited the blog of proximal development: teaching.blogging.writing written by Konrad Glogowski. Glogowski definitely knows his blogs; he has a PhD in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Development and his doctoral research studied the use of blogs in educational settings and communities. According to Glogowski, this blog may have begun as a way to document his research, but has since developed into a more personal reflection, analysis, and study of 21st Century literacies and the impact of technology on literacy.
Type of Blog Considering the original purpose was research-based, I would assume that the purpose was personal. It was his way to compile evidence and ideas. As it grew, I believe Glogowski realized the potential audience that he could reach, and the blog became a personal project.
Interesting Posts/CommentsI think that Glogowski’s relationship with Teachers Without Boarders gives his blog a unique perspective. I particularly liked his entry reflecting on his visit to Kenya and the struggle students have with literacy. He even touches on the very ethnocentricity of asking students to read “English” when it is a second or even third language.
One other point that I found ironic is the stress that Kenyans place on standardized testing. Apparently, the US isn’t the only nation facing this challenge. Glogowski says that the results of these tests dictate the child’s educational future.
Questions that RemainI find it disappointing that the blog’s most recent post is from 2009. Perhaps his doctoral program ended?
He has a link to a “tumble log.” I’ve never heard this term before. Anyone know what it is?
Practical Theory: a view from the classroomPurpose of Blog Chris Lehmann seems to be a jack-of-all-trades sort – coach, teacher, public speaker, educational innovator, and blogger. Not to drop names, but I was immediately sucked into the blog with the words “Bill Gates” floating around. It’s not that I’ll jump on any Gates Bandwagon, but I was impressed by the connection between blogger and bajillionaire.
Type of Blog Lehman seems to have blurred the lines between personal and professional blogging. While one post is a video of a speaking engagement, another may be about an educator-gets-personal Tweet (“Radical Notion: National standards should be written by successful people not of that field. Poets writing math standards, etc...”), and yet another boasts of his new iPad.
Interesting Posts/CommentsLehman is certainly a visionary in education, and I love the posts of his speeches (and the fact that his students are sometimes recording or broadcasting them)!
The Thinking StickPurpose of Blog Jeff Utecht, educator, presenter, and presenter, has created this blog to help teachers prepare students for their “unknown future.” I think it’s fascinating that he is an elementary teacher living in Bangkok.
Type of Blog From what I can tell of Utecht’s followers, I believe that this is primarily an educational tool for peers (teachers). I don’t think Utecht would use this with his as a teaching tool for younger students.
Interesting Posts/Comments Conclusions that he has drawn regarding the NJ principal who banned students from all social networking sites:
1. Parents are the problem and need to be told by the school how to raise their children.
2.That because “2% of kids are going to say something” we want you to ban all social-networking sites.
That’s funny because I’m sure that:
2% of kids have bullied on the playground yet we’ve never banned recess.
2% of kids have bullied on the bus….yet we haven’t banned buses.
2% of kids have bullied at the bus stop….yet we haven’t banned bus stops.