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Tech

Teachers blogging!

It's not just classroom blogging, there's gossip, gripes and professional development blogs.
Written by ZDNET Editors, Contributor

So teachers are learning to blog. Some in the classroom, some for professional development. But as this Washington Post article reports, teachers - who are often in their 20s, after all - are using blogs for personal expression and, among other things, they're expressing frustration at teaching.

Last May, my school board approved an allocation to purchase a wireless laptop cart/mobile computer lab for our school. This was exciting, because we were, at the time, working on a small package of professional development around incorporating technology into our instruction . . . Unfortunately I'm still waiting for those computers. The staff's excitement is long gone. Promises made by district technology personnel were broken repeatedly.

-- http://www.budtheteacher.typepad.com/

Some bloggers just gossip:

I'm going to Portland for all of next week and leaving my children without me. It feels weird to leave them for a whole week. Not to mention the fact that their sub is going to be this guy that reeks -- and I mean REEKS -- of cigarettes. I seriously have to hold my breath around him because I gag if I don't. . . . The kids are horrified by my abandonment. -- http://www.firstyearteacher.20blogspot.com/ But of course, blogs are serious business to many, as most readers are already aware:
"I personally use blogs every day to keep up on what the newest thoughts are on education," said Scott E. Schopieray, assistant director of the Center for Teaching and Technology at Michigan State University. "I have my own research that I'm an expert in, but I can't be an expert in my domain and also be one in every other domain, so I use blogs posted by other educators in order to capitalize on their expertise."

"I have an idea, I put it on my blog," said David Warlick, of 2 Cents Worth, who teaches teachers around the country how to use blogs. "I learn something as a result. This last year has been the most incredible learning year of my life because of this ongoing conversation of ideas through blogging."

Yong Zhao, director of the Center for Teaching and Technology at Michigan State University, said it is important for teachers to know how to blog so they can understand the digital world in which their students live.

Ryan Bolger, a professor in the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., started his blog to improve his Internet fluency and discovered he was having an unexpected impact. He posted a book review he had written but never expected anybody to see it. The Google search engine picked it up, and he got 500 responses every day. Now he is a confirmed blogger.

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