Thing 4

Commenting helps create a sense of community and interaction because it is a personal way to talk to people who are involved in the same things we are.  I found that when commenting it is very important to let the bloggers reading your post know who you are so that they can thank you for commenting and so that they can recognize the work you have done.  Also, it is very important to be tactful about what you say on a blog.  We can't just fly off the handle when someone says something we disagree with.  Everyone must speak cordially and appropriately.  However, it is okay to disagree with a blogger comment.

The people that I followed and commented on randomly were: Shea Osborne, Tammy Waters, Mary Barczak, bwood6, and ljyurus.

Shea Osborne-  Shea said that students feel more at ease speaking through blogs than they do through the classroom discussion.  I commented that I agree, especially since I am one of those students who doesn't like to speak in front of a class.

Tammy Waters- Tammy gave a quote that really stuck with me.  She said "It is what it is" in light of Habit 3.  I have the same problem Tammy does of making problems into challenges.

Mary B.-  Mary commented that she didn't understand the importance of EDUC 3040.  Neither did I until we started learning all these things about the Internet and how technology impacts the classroom environment.

bwood6-  She posted that the process of setting up the blog was confusing and I completely agree!  I am glad I am not the only one that had trouble.

ljyurus-  Posted some very good ideas about how to use blogs in upper level classrooms.  I thanked her for the ideas.

I chose these people because they all posted thoughts that I was interested in and that I agreed with.  I learned some valuable things and I feel like I made good connections.  It is good to know I am not alone in this process.

I also am following Blind Pig and the Acorn and the Bluegrass Blog.  I chose both of these blogs for the same reason.  I love bluegrass music.  I teach it, I play it, and I perform it.  I like to stay in touch with all the latest news in the bluegrass world and these blogs are a way for me to do that.