Comments on: And No Blog Tattoos Either http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/ The Read/Write Web in the Classroom Fri, 16 May 2008 06:58:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Phat Farm Store http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-54178 Phat Farm Store Wed, 14 May 2008 18:05:09 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-54178 <strong>Phat Farm Store...</strong> I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you.... Phat Farm Store…

I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you….

]]> By: NowlanS http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-54101 NowlanS Tue, 13 May 2008 22:27:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-54101 I think it is ridiculous that one person gets upset about something and then the whole gets ruined just because one person got mad. Having your blog on your e-mail signature isn't bad at all. In putting your blog address in your e-mail signature this only helps people know more about you and your ideas. I do not believe there should be a ban on promoting personal learning networks. Some people are inappropriate with the items they put on there blogs but not everyone is inappropriate with the items they post online. The school districts should not ban putting your blog address on your e-mail signature. This is a ridiculous precaution to take just because a few people put inappropriate links or things on their signature. The school districts need to check these people out before they hire them and if they do not find anything inappropriate when they conduct their initial search then there should be no problem in allowing these people to put their blog addresses on their e-mail signatures. Also the blogs on the e-mail signature should be limited to strictly educational blogs. If someone wants to find out what their personal blog address is they can e-mail them. I think it is ridiculous that one person gets upset about something and then the whole gets ruined just because one person got mad. Having your blog on your e-mail signature isn’t bad at all. In putting your blog address in your e-mail signature this only helps people know more about you and your ideas. I do not believe there should be a ban on promoting personal learning networks. Some people are inappropriate with the items they put on there blogs but not everyone is inappropriate with the items they post online. The school districts should not ban putting your blog address on your e-mail signature. This is a ridiculous precaution to take just because a few people put inappropriate links or things on their signature. The school districts need to check these people out before they hire them and if they do not find anything inappropriate when they conduct their initial search then there should be no problem in allowing these people to put their blog addresses on their e-mail signatures. Also the blogs on the e-mail signature should be limited to strictly educational blogs. If someone wants to find out what their personal blog address is they can e-mail them.

]]> By: Weblogg-ed » And No Blog Tattoos Either « Feed Your Mind http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53923 Weblogg-ed » And No Blog Tattoos Either « Feed Your Mind Mon, 12 May 2008 18:43:50 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53923 [...] Weblogg-ed » And No Blog Tattoos Either Weblogg-ed » And No Blog Tattoos Either [...] […] Weblogg-ed » And No Blog Tattoos Either Weblogg-ed » And No Blog Tattoos Either […]

]]> By: Lisa Nielsen http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53815 Lisa Nielsen Sun, 11 May 2008 22:43:17 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53815 Gary, While we may not be able to explicitly equate blogging, social networks, and the like with intellectual activity, they have tremendous potential to do so and provide an opportunity for teachers to engage in intellectual practices. While this isn't automatic, the tools make it possible and that is fantastic. In my blog post today I share an example of how my social network has promoted intellectual activity with it's newest member who shared that she was bursting with answers and shaking with excitement that she will finally be heard. She thanked me for creating an outlet that is so needed because teachers don’t always have a chance to exchange ideas. I did have the expectation that the NYC DOE would support me in sharing a professional blogs, social network etc. I couldn't imagine that they would not celebrate quality publishing and stimulation of pedagogical connections and conversations. Heck they paid 80 million dollars to create a system to do just that and I'm doing it for free in my spare time. I'm disappointed that they have enacted this mandate and I'm hoping they will reconsider. I'm not sure why it is you believe educators should not have such an expectation. I believe they should. Since this story has come to light many educators have shared they also have this as an expectation so much so that innovative educators around the globe now have new professional email signatures. Lisa Nielsen - The Innovative Educator http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com Gary,
While we may not be able to explicitly equate blogging, social networks, and the like with intellectual activity, they have tremendous potential to do so and provide an opportunity for teachers to engage in intellectual practices. While this isn’t automatic, the tools make it possible and that is fantastic. In my blog post today I share an example of how my social network has promoted intellectual activity with it’s newest member who shared that she was bursting with answers and shaking with excitement that she will finally be heard. She thanked me for creating an outlet that is so needed because teachers don’t always have a chance to exchange ideas.

I did have the expectation that the NYC DOE would support me in sharing a professional blogs, social network etc. I couldn’t imagine that they would not celebrate quality publishing and stimulation of pedagogical connections and conversations. Heck they paid 80 million dollars to create a system to do just that and I’m doing it for free in my spare time. I’m disappointed that they have enacted this mandate and I’m hoping they will reconsider. I’m not sure why it is you believe educators should not have such an expectation. I believe they should. Since this story has come to light many educators have shared they also have this as an expectation so much so that innovative educators around the globe now have new professional email signatures.

Lisa Nielsen - The Innovative Educator
http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com

]]> By: Gary Stager http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53810 Gary Stager Sun, 11 May 2008 22:17:53 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53810 Will, Alex spoke of teachers "being intellectual" in the context of writing and taking "intellectual risks" while blogging. You then replied by saying, "Alex. I think too often we don’t provide opportunities or support for teachers to be intellectuals, to expect it of them in fact." You did not equate blogging with intellectual activity explicitly, but Alex then responds to you by speaking of teachers engaged in "intellectual practices" two sentences after suggesting that blogs might be a space for such expressions of intellectualism. Will,

Alex spoke of teachers “being intellectual” in the context of writing and taking “intellectual risks” while blogging.

You then replied by saying, “Alex. I think too often we don’t provide opportunities or support for teachers to be intellectuals, to expect it of them in fact.”

You did not equate blogging with intellectual activity explicitly, but Alex then responds to you by speaking of teachers engaged in “intellectual practices” two sentences after suggesting that blogs might be a space for such expressions of intellectualism.

]]> By: Greg Carroll http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53809 Greg Carroll Sun, 11 May 2008 22:10:03 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53809 Having been an ICT PD facilitator I couldn't have done the job (well) without my blog. Lisa it would be interesting to provide 'robust feedback' to the District as part of your appraisal process about how the lack of overt link to it has limited your ability to fulfill your job description?? Having been an ICT PD facilitator I couldn’t have done the job (well) without my blog. Lisa it would be interesting to provide ‘robust feedback’ to the District as part of your appraisal process about how the lack of overt link to it has limited your ability to fulfill your job description??

]]> By: Will Richardson http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53807 Will Richardson Sun, 11 May 2008 21:35:40 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53807 Thanks for the comment Gary. Once again, I find the response interesting in the way you interpret the conversation. Where do you read that blogging "automatically" equals intellectual practice? Thanks for the comment Gary. Once again, I find the response interesting in the way you interpret the conversation. Where do you read that blogging “automatically” equals intellectual practice?

]]> By: Lisa Nielsen http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53806 Lisa Nielsen Sun, 11 May 2008 21:24:56 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53806 Thanks for the support. I'm happy to hear you like the workaround. I'll be sure to update everyone here and on my blog about how things progress. Wouldn't it be great if the attention to the issue resulted in them reconsidering the mandate? Whether or not it does, I'm happy to that many edubloggers around the globe have shared that they now have a new professional email signature and are encouraging others to follow suit. Lisa Nielsen, The Innovative Educator http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com Thanks for the support. I’m happy to hear you like the workaround. I’ll be sure to update everyone here and on my blog about how things progress. Wouldn’t it be great if the attention to the issue resulted in them reconsidering the mandate? Whether or not it does, I’m happy to that many edubloggers around the globe have shared that they now have a new professional email signature and are encouraging others to follow suit.

Lisa Nielsen, The Innovative Educator
http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com

]]> By: Gary Stager http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53805 Gary Stager Sun, 11 May 2008 20:54:41 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53805 The teacher doesn't have to "be lazy." She could defy her employer, be terminated and fight the issue on the grounds of her first amendment rights. As I've explained to my children when a publication censors my articles, freedom of the press extends to the owner of the press. Sure, we can self-publish now due to advances in technology, but should not have an expectation that some other entity will subsidize that speech. The issue of whether blogging is automatically intellectual can be left for another time. The teacher doesn’t have to “be lazy.” She could defy her employer, be terminated and fight the issue on the grounds of her first amendment rights.

As I’ve explained to my children when a publication censors my articles, freedom of the press extends to the owner of the press.

Sure, we can self-publish now due to advances in technology, but should not have an expectation that some other entity will subsidize that speech.

The issue of whether blogging is automatically intellectual can be left for another time.

]]> By: Alex Reid http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53797 Alex Reid Sun, 11 May 2008 01:53:59 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53797 Yes Will, I couldn't agree more. As we often say, it's not about the technology; it's about thoughtful participation in a kind of public space--the web and blogs being one such space. I'm not one to equate being intellectual with having degrees. However that said, less than 10% of the US population over 25 have Masters degrees, like many teachers do. Teachers have spent an extraordinary amount of time dedicated to developing certain kinds of intellectual practices. We should expect that practice from them, and I say that imagining that the majority will express values that I disagree with. However I'd rather see those values out in the open where I can engage them. Yes Will, I couldn’t agree more. As we often say, it’s not about the technology; it’s about thoughtful participation in a kind of public space–the web and blogs being one such space. I’m not one to equate being intellectual with having degrees. However that said, less than 10% of the US population over 25 have Masters degrees, like many teachers do. Teachers have spent an extraordinary amount of time dedicated to developing certain kinds of intellectual practices.

We should expect that practice from them, and I say that imagining that the majority will express values that I disagree with. However I’d rather see those values out in the open where I can engage them.

]]> By: Will Richardson http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53788 Will Richardson Sat, 10 May 2008 21:15:17 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53788 Thanks for the comment, Alex. I think too often we don't provide opportunities or support for teachers to be intellectuals, to expect it of them in fact. And I don't mean asking them to all be bloggers as much as expecting them to be participants in conversations larger than their classroom practice. To model engagement and passion on some level other than what the curriculum directs. Thanks for the comment, Alex. I think too often we don’t provide opportunities or support for teachers to be intellectuals, to expect it of them in fact. And I don’t mean asking them to all be bloggers as much as expecting them to be participants in conversations larger than their classroom practice. To model engagement and passion on some level other than what the curriculum directs.

]]> By: Will Richardson http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53787 Will Richardson Sat, 10 May 2008 21:04:51 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53787 Hey Lisa, I really like this twist and will be interested to see if you get any pushback. And I think this is one way to think about preparing our kids for this. They will be Googled…what will those Googlers find? Fight on. Hey Lisa,

I really like this twist and will be interested to see if you get any pushback. And I think this is one way to think about preparing our kids for this. They will be Googled…what will those Googlers find? Fight on.

]]> By: Alex Reid http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53783 Alex Reid Sat, 10 May 2008 16:35:40 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53783 All writing requires risks, some more than others. "Free speech" doesn't protect us from consequences nor would we want it to since we write to create consequences/effects. However, if we discourage our teachers from writing and taking intellectual risks then what example does that send to our students? Not writing and not being intellectual are also significant risks for teachers to take with potentially terrible consequences. In short, there's no escaping risk. The trick is to be skillful while avoiding cynicism and principled while remaining rhetorically effective. All writing requires risks, some more than others. “Free speech” doesn’t protect us from consequences nor would we want it to since we write to create consequences/effects. However, if we discourage our teachers from writing and taking intellectual risks then what example does that send to our students? Not writing and not being intellectual are also significant risks for teachers to take with potentially terrible consequences.

In short, there’s no escaping risk. The trick is to be skillful while avoiding cynicism and principled while remaining rhetorically effective.

]]> By: Lisa Nielsen http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53780 Lisa Nielsen Sat, 10 May 2008 13:38:47 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53780 A big thanks to everyone here and especially Will for your attention to this subject. For those following the conversation I wanted to share my new post called "The Creative Workaround and A Great Idea for Professional Email Signatures," where I share a great idea for my new blog url-less email signature. I suggest including "Google Me at..." in your signature. What a great way to get the conversation started about creating an active digital footprint and holding innovative educators accountable for doing so. Read the full post at http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com (tags/labels: freedom of speech). Lisa Nielsen The Innovative Educator Google me at "Educating Innovatively." A big thanks to everyone here and especially Will for your attention to this subject. For those following the conversation I wanted to share my new post called “The Creative Workaround and A Great Idea for Professional Email Signatures,” where I share a great idea for my new blog url-less email signature. I suggest including “Google Me at…” in your signature. What a great way to get the conversation started about creating an active digital footprint and holding innovative educators accountable for doing so. Read the full post at http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com (tags/labels: freedom of speech).

Lisa Nielsen
The Innovative Educator
Google me at “Educating Innovatively.”

]]> By: Greg Carroll http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/and-no-blog-tattoos-either/#comment-53777 Greg Carroll Sat, 10 May 2008 06:43:23 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2851#comment-53777 Tim - with the things happening in the 'Sates (NYC) and in Australia (Allan Upton) recently to shut down blogs etc because of political correctness and mind control gone mad I am certainly very grateful to be teaching in far away old NZ. We have some very exciting things happening in this country with Web2.0 tools and the Ministry of Education is actively encouraging them with our ICT PD Programme. It is sad for your system that you have administrators who have such a narrow, and controlling world view. Check out Lisa Nielsons blog (link above) for her entry on ethical digital footprints. Nicely put Lisa! Tim - with the things happening in the ‘Sates (NYC) and in Australia (Allan Upton) recently to shut down blogs etc because of political correctness and mind control gone mad I am certainly very grateful to be teaching in far away old NZ. We have some very exciting things happening in this country with Web2.0 tools and the Ministry of Education is actively encouraging them with our ICT PD Programme.
It is sad for your system that you have administrators who have such a narrow, and controlling world view.

Check out Lisa Nielsons blog (link above) for her entry on ethical digital footprints. Nicely put Lisa!

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