Week 1 - Reflection -teacher-tutor-moderator-edublogger

Thanks to Donna, here I am at the start of the 10 Week Blogging Challenge,  an ongoing journey which will hopefully never end. The words that best describe this first week are enthusiasm and inspiration. It has been  a feast of priceless information and ideas on using blogs in the classroom. 

By strictly following the course instructions, I have realized that setting up and using a blog is something pretty easy to do; there is no specialist technical knowledge required. Due to this week's mandatory reading, the course's Blogger Instructions as well as to a very useful supplementary tutorial and a specialized SETA (South Eastern Europe Teachers' Association) discussion forum I have been introduced to the rare-air discipline of owning a professional blog.

For those of us attending The Building Teaching Skills Through the Interactive Web, 

who haven't become tech savvy teachers yet, it may be a time consuming activity but it is also extremely rewarding. According to Steve Wheeler's opinion, in one of his blog articles, there are at least seven benefits of teachers' blogging: reflection, crystallized thinking, the possibility to attract new audiences, to create personal momentum, to give positive feedback, to become more and more creative,  and to raise the game.

In my case, being newly introduced to the art of blogging, it has meant the similar feeling a painter experiences when faced to a properly prepared canvas, some very good quality oil paint, stiff brushes, a palette with a thumb hole, a standing easel, and sketching supplies to plan the painting, everything in a safe, dust free place.  In a few words, these days I have been introduced my most eagerly awaited answers to the 5 Ws of writing online for educational purposes.

A valuable idea that I have kept for myself this week is that the major advantage of using blogs in  class is the fact that they provide the learners with realia tools that can help them practise their written English. The online environment encourages them to visualize, reflect and debate on every day issues.

One of the many reasons I have applied for and I am extremely grateful for having been accepted to the Building Teaching Skills Through the Interactive Web is the long felt need of belonging to a professional E-teacher community. It is very encouraging for me to be part of such a wonderful like-minded group. I couldn't help noticing that my group-mates' blogs flood with lasting inspiration. For all of us interested in CPD (Continuing Professional Development), I share a link to the conference I have been watching online this weekend; it is called 2015 MANCHESTER ONLINE - Annual International IATEFL Conference & Exhibition.

Instead of a final thought, please reflect on the following message, the last slide of a presentation at the IATEFL Conference today:

Ok, that it for this post! I wish you all to KEEP CALM and BLOG!

Rolanda OSMAN