Comments on: Best Teacher Blog 2006 Finalists http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/ Sun, 09 May 2010 11:26:30 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: jeff siniscalchi http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/comment-page-1/#comment-1475 jeff siniscalchi Tue, 19 Dec 2006 06:46:58 +0000 http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/#comment-1475 First, I have to let you know that I am not an educator. How I came upon Borderlund, was through a teacher friend, whom, after reading over their shoulder, I soon took over the computer. I was totally fascinated by the Borderlund website. I especially entralled by the topic of the use of technology and how to use it in the schools. I intend of visiting this site often. Someone tell please let Mr. Noon know what a great job he is doing! First, I have to let you know that I am not an educator. How I came upon Borderlund, was through a teacher friend, whom, after reading over their shoulder, I soon took over the computer. I was totally fascinated by the Borderlund website. I especially entralled by the topic of the use of technology and how to use it in the schools. I intend of visiting this site often. Someone tell please let Mr. Noon know what a great job he is doing!

]]> By: Josie Fraser http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/comment-page-1/#comment-1474 Josie Fraser Sun, 10 Dec 2006 13:34:19 +0000 http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/#comment-1474 Hi Al - Huge thanks for the reply and the generous offer! I’m thinking that a more effective administrative structure for the awards would be to have one person take responsibility for each category, and for all the category leaders to pool their ideas and expertise in delivering the awards. This way we would make the commitment manageable as well as ensuring the awards are professionally delivered. Certainly not thinking of walking away from my involvement to date – it’s been too much fun! Hi Al – Huge thanks for the reply and the generous offer! I’m thinking that a more effective administrative structure for the awards would be to have one person take responsibility for each category, and for all the category leaders to pool their ideas and expertise in delivering the awards. This way we would make the commitment manageable as well as ensuring the awards are professionally delivered. Certainly not thinking of walking away from my involvement to date – it’s been too much fun!

]]> By: Al Upton http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/comment-page-1/#comment-1473 Al Upton Sun, 10 Dec 2006 11:48:14 +0000 http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/#comment-1473 Hi Josie, yes of course I am happy to volunteer input (and any available time) into the selection processes for next year's new look EduBlog Awards. I hope 'a committee to take over' doesn't suggest that all your valuable energies, time and skills won't be available! I have a particular interest in a 'Class Blogs' category. In 2007 I will continue to develop an increased profile and connectedness of these blogs. http://connect.edublogs.org/ starts at the local level (South Australia - ALL blogs are scarce) where I intend to raise awarness and increase the visibility and accessibility of class blogs. This could be designed to present a wider spectrum of the blogs (countries, year levels etc) which in turn could better facilitate exploration, inspiration, evaluation, connection and choice. In fact I might have to limit putting up my hand just for that category :) Thanks for your link in response to my request for lists of class blogs. I've added it to http://connect.edublogs.org/blog/class-blogs-world/ Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Let me know when thinking for next year's awards start. Cheers, Al Hi Josie,

yes of course I am happy to volunteer input (and any available time) into the selection processes for next year’s new look EduBlog Awards. I hope ‘a committee to take over’ doesn’t suggest that all your valuable energies, time and skills won’t be available!

I have a particular interest in a ‘Class Blogs’ category.
In 2007 I will continue to develop an increased profile and connectedness of these blogs.
http://connect.edublogs.org/ starts at the local level (South Australia – ALL blogs are scarce) where I intend to raise awarness and increase the visibility and accessibility of class blogs. This could be designed to present a wider spectrum of the blogs (countries, year levels etc) which in turn could better facilitate exploration, inspiration, evaluation, connection and choice. In fact I might have to limit putting up my hand just for that category :)

Thanks for your link in response to my request for lists of class blogs. I’ve added it to
http://connect.edublogs.org/blog/class-blogs-world/
Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

Let me know when thinking for next year’s awards start.
Cheers, Al

]]> By: Josie Fraser http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/comment-page-1/#comment-1472 Josie Fraser Sat, 09 Dec 2006 14:58:22 +0000 http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/#comment-1472 Hi Al, thanks for the comments. As you noted, the function of the awards is to provide a snapshot of the kinds of blogging going on under the category headings - I'm keen to not subscribe what qualifies and what doesn't, but leave it to the blogging community to nominate how they see fit. This, combined with the fact that there are now so many great blogs and so many ways of blogging means that the finalists are likely to be pretty eclectic. Each of the categories here could justifiably have its own awards programme – there’s also room for plenty more categories. However, there are only so many hours in the day! I love how this awards programme is non-commercial and community based – but there are drawbacks as well as benefits to taking this independent and self-resourced approach. I'm using surveymonkey for the awards this year, although pollmonkey, which we used last year, turns out to have caused less problems. I am hoping to set up a committee to take over the running of the awards for next year – please do let me know if you (or anyone else reading this) are interested in and has the time to volunteer! There are a bunch of edublogger directory type resources about, for example http://educational.blogs.com/, the international edublogger frappr map and the UK based directory I am working on. I’m hopeful that others will leave pointers to similar resources here for you too! Hi Al, thanks for the comments.

As you noted, the function of the awards is to provide a snapshot of the kinds of blogging going on under the category headings – I’m keen to not subscribe what qualifies and what doesn’t, but leave it to the blogging community to nominate how they see fit. This, combined with the fact that there are now so many great blogs and so many ways of blogging means that the finalists are likely to be pretty eclectic. Each of the categories here could justifiably have its own awards programme – there’s also room for plenty more categories. However, there are only so many hours in the day!

I love how this awards programme is non-commercial and community based – but there are drawbacks as well as benefits to taking this independent and self-resourced approach. I’m using surveymonkey for the awards this year, although pollmonkey, which we used last year, turns out to have caused less problems.

I am hoping to set up a committee to take over the running of the awards for next year – please do let me know if you (or anyone else reading this) are interested in and has the time to volunteer!

There are a bunch of edublogger directory type resources about, for example http://educational.blogs.com/, the international edublogger frappr map and the UK based directory I am working on. I’m hopeful that others will leave pointers to similar resources here for you too!

]]> By: Al Upton http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/comment-page-1/#comment-1471 Al Upton Sat, 09 Dec 2006 14:16:43 +0000 http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/#comment-1471 Hi, having left a comment I am now unable to vote. I am waiting until I hear back from you anyway but was surprised by the 'Thanks for Voting' when I hadn't :) BTW I didn't properly acknowledge the blogs in my comment above - they are 'A Difference' - Darren Kuropatwa and 'Teaching Generation Z' - Graham Wegner Hi, having left a comment I am now unable to vote. I am waiting until I hear back from you anyway but was surprised by the ‘Thanks for Voting’ when I hadn’t :)
BTW I didn’t properly acknowledge the blogs in my comment above – they are ‘A Difference’ – Darren Kuropatwa and ‘Teaching Generation Z’ – Graham Wegner

]]> By: Al Upton http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/comment-page-1/#comment-1470 Al Upton Sat, 09 Dec 2006 14:04:10 +0000 http://edublogawards.com/nominations-for-best-teacher-blog-2006/#comment-1470 Hi Josie and James 1)Thanks for all your efforts. Is there some way you can help us link up with more blogs in each category - beyond those put up here on a pedestal based on those who chose to nominate? Although deserved in the parameters of these awards, do you know of a similar service/site that lists a greater number of blogs and links to their successful contributions to student learning? I'm particularly interested in class blogs for a site I'm setting up for next year http://connect.edublogs.org/ I'm keen to help South Australian classes connecting locally and globally. 2) Is this category for class blogs? - The blog is used with students eg http://adifference.blogspot.com/ (I diplomatically took the top of an excellent group) or used for the teacher's personal reflection, sharing and professional learning eg http://www.gwegner.edublogs.org/ (I deliberately took the one close to home where I've been part of it's journey. Congratulations Graham!) :) Both are excellent blogs but distinctly different - but what IS a teacher blog? Cheers, Al Hi Josie and James

1)Thanks for all your efforts. Is there some way you can help us link up with more blogs in each category – beyond those put up here on a pedestal based on those who chose to nominate? Although deserved in the parameters of these awards, do you know of a similar service/site that lists a greater number of blogs and links to their successful contributions to student learning? I’m particularly interested in class blogs for a site I’m setting up for next year http://connect.edublogs.org/ I’m keen to help South Australian classes connecting locally and globally.

2) Is this category for class blogs? – The blog is used with students eg http://adifference.blogspot.com/ (I diplomatically took the top of an excellent group)

or used for the teacher’s personal reflection, sharing and professional learning eg http://www.gwegner.edublogs.org/ (I deliberately took the one close to home where I’ve been part of it’s journey. Congratulations Graham!) :)

Both are excellent blogs but distinctly different – but what IS a teacher blog? Cheers, Al

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