It’s not “blogging” , it’s “writing and reflection”

It’s not a “wiki”, it’s a tool for “collaboration and sharing.”

It’s not “web 2.0″ it’s “the here and now”

If you are reading this then you are converted or at least awake to a new conversation.  You are reading these words  through (I hope)  a critical lens  and will  take the ideas here along with the countless others you have sifted though to form your own thoughts, conclusions to the betterment of your classrooms and schools.
But  what about those people who stop at the word “blog”?

These are the same people who cannot understand why someone would want to write and share their thoughts and ideas to an invisible audience for no other reason than to share.  The word “blog” is a barrier.

For many the word “blog” still means online diary. Memories of the media frenzy in the not so distant past where these “new” websites received good press and bad still ring loudly. They cannot move past the personal nature of the websites, the bias and the questionable authority. Since it is online is somehow escapes the basic filters that we would apply to any editorial or op-ed piece that we might find in a book, magazine or newspaper.

Why ?

Because the medium is the message and this medium is new and different and the message is scary!

So what to do?

How do we support our colleagues  and bring them into the conversation.

Stop using the “buzz words”  – Soon blog and wiki elements will appear in most sites it is our job to show how these elements can enhance the information experience but also hinder it.  Leave “blog” out of it and focus on the “participation”.

I know that “blogs” and “wikis” have names for a reason and are fundamentally different from their Web 1.0 counterparts but I am past that. I want the unconverted and I am looking for interesting ways to support them and get them thinking.

That is why I have dropped the “terms” and focused on the “uses”.   It seems to be working……………..

…………….but I am always looking for more ideas.

Got any to share?