Multiple Voices, Interacting

Reading this post , written by Alexander Russo over on Education Week's This Week in Education blog.

The Ideal Education Blog -- Multiple Voices, Interacting

Blogs written by groups rather than individual writers have been all the rage for a little while now -- combining as they do the pleasures of distinct voices with the diversity of multiple perspectives. More

This quote stood out...

Now, that trend seems to be accelerating. There's The Pulse, run by District Administration, and now the EduStat blog, run by SchoolNet. Ideally, these blogs will create a sort of community discussion among bloggers that's convenient to readers and lively and pleasurable for everyone. Still, there needs to be more interactivity among the writers, and diversity of perspectives.

My comment to his post...

         "Still, there needs to be more interactivity among the writers, and diversity of  perspectives."

I agree. As one of the contributors to the EduStat blog I have to admit to finding it awkward when commenting to other contributor's posts on the blog. While like you, I have felt the need for interactivity, I questioned whether the readership would tire of my voice and opinions so prominently interwoven throughout the site. And I also noticed I was one of the few who were actually commenting to other's posts.

For example, I would love to see a few comments from you- to get a better feel for your perspective on things. I welcome your comments and diverse perspective to my posts. Together, we can model interactivity among the writers and maybe others will follow along.

These are exciting times are they not? No fast rules with citizen journalism through blogs, we are all in white water as we figure it all out.

What is your take on it? With group blogs, whether policy or classrooms types, (with students being the contributors) shouldn't there be more interactivity by contributors serving as readers and commenting as much as they post or does that strategy risk the conversation becoming too contributor heavy?

Take a Moment to Check Us Out and Leave a Comment

The Journal wrote a nice blurb about EduStat's new Teacher 2.0 blog if you would like to know more. Besides, I would love to have your voice interacting over there as we help policy makers understand the educational reform that is needed in these changing times.

This quote stood out...

Now, that trend seems to be accelerating. There's The Pulse, run by District Administration, and now the EduStat blog, run by SchoolNet. Ideally, these blogs will create a sort of community discussion among bloggers that's convenient to readers and lively and pleasurable for everyone. Still, there needs to be more interactivity among the writers, and diversity of perspectives.

My comment to his post...

         "Still, there needs to be more interactivity among the writers, and diversity of  perspectives."

I agree. As one of the contributors to the EduStat blog I have to admit to finding it awkward when commenting to other contributor's posts on the blog. While like you, I have felt the need for interactivity, I questioned whether the readership would tire of my voice and opinions so prominently interwoven throughout the site. And I also noticed I was one of the few who were actually commenting to other's posts.

For example, I would love to see a few comments from you- to get a better feel for your perspective on things. I welcome your comments and diverse perspective to my posts. Together, we can model interactivity among the writers and maybe others will follow along.

These are exciting times are they not? No fast rules with citizen journalism through blogs, we are all in white water as we figure it all out.

What is your take on it? With group blogs, whether policy or classrooms types, (with students being the contributors) shouldn't there be more interactivity by contributors serving as readers and commenting as much as they post or does that strategy risk the conversation becoming too contributor heavy?

Take a Moment to Check Us Out and Leave a Comment

The Journal wrote a nice blurb about EduStat's new Teacher 2.0 blog if you would like to know more. Besides, I would love to have your voice interacting over there as we help policy makers understand the educational reform that is needed in these changing times.

Comments

[Iain Cook-Bonney]

Hi Sheryl,
Our ICT Cluster uses group blogs for our Quality Learning Circles. They are a way for teachers to share experiences and exchange ideas about their learning during the year.
It has been really interesting to watch how those who are new to blogging are supported by those who are more experienced. I think that this is the strength of a group blog, that contributors do not feel that they are a 'lone voice'.
While I am aware that bogging IS a social activity...for many adults new to ICT/Technology it is a bit of a leap for them to adjust to this method of publishing. And the same is true for children as well.
Commenting on posts in the group blog is a good way to learn about the 'rules of commenting' and to understand that blogging is a shared process between writer and reader, and that those roles can switch at any time!
So when I introduce learners to blogging I often start them with a shared blog and then let them spread their wings as they grow more confident!

[Wesley Fryer]

Blogging is a very peculiar communication medium. I am always interested in the sorts of posts which inspire or provoke comments and those which don't. Tone is important I think, as well as theme. When some have already commented, I think others feel more willing (less conspicuous) to add to the conversation. I think it perhaps takes a more bold or confident commenter to leave "the first comment."

I wonder how many people generally prefer to be lurkers rather than conversationalists. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, I'm just wondering about it. Blogs are peculiar in many ways, but perhaps the most unusual and also challenging is the nonlinearity of the information streams. Do most people on a team blog read everything their teammates are writing? I would guess not, but in some cases it is likely the case. Should this be an expectation? Perhaps. The more a group is in tune with what others are thinking and writing, the more the river of ideas being shared by that group will be connected in some way.

I'm glad to see more team blogs. I wonder if we'll reach a "tipping point" at some stage when a majority of teachers and administrators are not only aware of the constructive uses of blogs, but actually read and participate in them personally? If so, we seem to be a long way away from that today, but the increasing numbers of team blogs are a good sign we're headed in that direction.