Thing 3

The realm of blogging has changed the way people communicate. It allows users to contemplate ideas, thoughts, and concepts and apply, integrate, and adapt their own opinions about the topics of interest. I am a self-described "sports junkie" and my only experience with blogging in the past has been posts to sports sites. It's like being on talk radio and being able to "trash talk" about your favorite team or athlete in real time without being put on hold. The proliferation of blogging increases daily and it has become apparent that the resources we as educators have access to also multiplies daily. The ability to connect with users all over the world is a bit empowering. Sharing your opinion on educational topics does cause me some hesitation however. While commenting on sports sites, it is almost expected to be criticized and abused. It comes with the territory. However, when posting thoughts to an educational forum, I am reluctant to post with the insecurity of being criticized. The field of education is my profession and I don't want to be accused of being an educational moron or elitist. The more I begin to understand blogging as a tool for my own professional development and not a means of spouting off, I'm sure I will become more comfortable with its positive influence on my career and my classroom.