Treasure Chest of Thoughts

Who do you have to thank for helping you create your blog?  Who do you need to thank for even knowing the term “blog”?

I have been following an interesting discussion at The Academia Gap and the New Philosophers  and the author’s frustration with this very topic…his frustration with the arrogance of veteran bloggers.  Yes, arrogance.

This was my comment to his blog entry…the 33rd comment (by the way!):

After seventeen years of teaching, I have learned many things…one of which is that I have not, cannot, will not be able to read all the books that I want to…but I am trying!

Likewise, new to much of Web 2.0, I can only try out as many of these new Web tools  as my schedule and family and work responsibilities…or, in essence, as time allows for me to do so, but I am certainly enjoying learning!

Just as I really appreciate some authors/books more than others…so do I enjoy some of these new 21clc techniques also.

A year ago, I did not know what a blog was, but thanks to a peer (Lisa Huff at JustRead!), I now have two blogs, have our school newspaper online (using a blog there also), and have my students creating blogs and learning to express their ideas with this grand tool…and that’s just utilizing one tool that I have learned!

Yet I feel Joel’s concern, for if in education, we all know teachers who will continue to do what they have always done, for they are very comfortable getting what they have always gotten.

Thankfully…I am not one of those such teachers.

First, please read the referenced blog entry and thirty-plus comments.  Check out the names…many well-know bloggers got involved in what became a “hot” topic!

Then, send a thank you note…thanks, Lisa!…to the person(s) who opened your experiences to all the new relationships formed through blogging…even if it’s just a better one with yourself!

Next, share this knowledge and love with someone else.  Not everyone will jump on board…but one will…then two.  

When you look back at any revolution and evolution of any new idea…most great ones did not take place in a day, a week, a month, even a year.  Not everyone jumped on board and many fought the concept of change.  But where would we be today without all those who are now veterans in their fields of expertise?

So I say…thanks to all the verterans! 

A special thanks to those who do go in the schools, the teachers’ lounge, the classrooms, who keep sharing their love of technology.

Thanks, Joel at The Twain Blog and author of the above referenced blog entry/topic, for all the reminders…you, too, are a veteran!