First Time -Reluctantly

After doing some investigating, and desiring to use blogs with elementary students, I figured I would try blogging for myself. I am not one of those people who enjoy journaling and writing my innermost thoughts. Writing is NOT cathartic for me. It does NOT make me feel better or help me to work out problems. Writing is something I do for work, for graduate school; because I have to.

The exception is email. Now that is something I can get lost in for hours. Whether it is email for work or personal. I will ruminate over the correct word choice and proper spelling and grammar -- even in a 2 sentence email. Because of this, I am thinking that blogging will get me to write, where a paper and pencil will not.

I am not quite sure of my purpose for writing this blog, other than to experience what my students and teachers may experience when becoming first time bloggers.

Further, I am unsure why I would want or need to read another person's blog. Similarly, why would someone want to read my blog? I can see this as a great tool to communicate with parents, or with a professor/teacher. But are strangers really that interested in the lives of others? In their private, mundane ramblings? I am told millions find reading the blogs of others fascinating.

I think the online format will encourage some reluctant writers to express themselves. Surprisingly, words and thoughts have come easily to me this first time. I was not born into the digital generation. I came to the "tech party" after college. I have been hooked ever since; and we're talking over 20 years. Even as a late bloomer with computers, I have found technology an irresistable and essential part of everyday life. I find anything related to technology to be a motivation. I can't learn enough about new gadgets, software, etc. Doing something online is far more preferable than doing it another way; writing, banking, shopping, playing games.

It is amazing how small our world has become with modern technology. To see images of far away places, to be able to converse and with someone from a country that doesn't even speak my language is quite extraordinary.

The everyday utility and the wonder of computers and technology; that is what I hope to communicate to my students.