‘Part of the allure of blogs is the easy way they move between the personal and the profound.’
Boannie A. Nardie et al
As I mark a significant hallmark in the Course – traversing halfway through completion, some perspetives abound on my blogging experience, vis a vis the present and the future. Is there a future in blogging for me at a personal level, – will I perpetuate my blogging craze beyond my MA Internet Cultures Module. This becomes an interesting question as my predecessor MA colleagues from yester year had been adamant they would fan and sustain the flame only to flounder thereafter.
But will I be any different, – I would affirm blogging will be a phenomenon to stay with me for the forseeable future. Granted,there are limitless opportunities offered by blogging,which opportunities I am only too willing to exploit. In the words of Boannie A. Nardi et al, ‘Blogging is an unusually versatile medium employed for everything from spontaneous release of emotion to archivable community.’ But why am I so enamoured by blogging,from whence does our love relationship emerge? I cherish a web presence and ‘blogging is the cornerstone of such a web presence.’ More like the in thing with me! Among other aesthetic pleasures, blogging helps me, ‘communicate and to disseminate my ideas.’ My blog is thus, more like a testing ground for my ideas,where we can debate and contest some of these ideas with my audience.Reminiscent of a free market place of ideas notion.
As a Media Educator I envisage a vibrant future through employing a blog for both my AS and A2 Media students. I am tempted to borrow ideas from my professional colleague Sara Linton, I am fascinated by her proposal to use a blog as a record to chart progress made on the Practical Production Coursework for the Film and Media course with her students. In concurrence with Sara, I will definitely use my blog with my A Level students as a barometer to check on progress made,not only in the practical production element,but also in other modules. Centrally monitored,potential hiccups will be quickly flagged up,and thus dealt with timeously!
The notion of using a blog as a ‘revision support blog’ is equally enticing and tempting in a way. I see it as a good idea to communicate with some students whose lesson attendance can be erratic at times.Many atimes, in a state of panic I’ve had to despatch study packs to my students a week or so before their exams,however, through consistently employing a blog as a vehicle for communication,this will soon be a thing of the past.In addition to classroom activities,I believe blogs help sustain rapport between students and their mentors,moreso when students make use of the feedback function. As one scholar,puts it,’Blogging can be used as support of group collaboration and a superiour alternative to mass e mail – to communicate with friends and family as well as for professional connections.Its easier than sending lots of e mails.Thus I would certainly employ blogging when communicating with both my AS and A2 Media students,rather than send a chain e mail,which can be quite tedious. The future of blogging in my professional career is thus quite intense. To me,blogging provides a fora for expressing a point of view, on some serious topics,’topics I may consider much more than just chatter.’
Critics and sceptics of blogs would have us believe blogs are meant for attention seekers,simply out there to gratify their whims and fancy.Nothing could be further from the truth if I am to argue from a personal standpoint,I have never really regarded myself as an attention seeker,being someone of a reticent disposition. In any case,the foregone expose has amply demonstrated why we need or rather I will continue to use blogs beyond my MA Studies.
Oooh Andrew, you always were an attention seeker. A peacock among sparrows, forever preening. That’s what this blogs about. Media, culture…you just want to join a boyband!
Roland