It's All About Me (Being a Professional)

Several weeks ago I declared this blog in need of a revamp. Since then I've spent a great deal of time reflecting on ed tech, social networking and my own professional development. Of course, all of the thoughts stay neatly tucked inside my mind.

I've been watching and learning from newbies to blogging (NB) as well as those who are blogging experts (BE).

What have I observed?

Trepidation & Innovation
Does it make me nervous? Yes, especially at first. However, I believe we need teachers who can model how this can be done professionally. (BE)

Intuition & Risk
I have great passion for what I do and am diving into the edtech professional development arena as well, in hopes of bringing the excitement of technology into more classrooms. (NB)

What have I learned?

Certainly, there are liberties I have as I'm not currently working in a school. In fact, there are benefits to not being employed at all.

• As long as I'm not prepared to fire myself, I've got "job" security (wondering if this isn't really "in" security).
• Morning is any time before noon.
• I generally agree and get along with myself.
• Ignoring bureaucracies that don't make sense to me.
• Setting the barometer for sense-making.

Does this mean I'm free to blog with random disregard? Absolutely not.

In addition to being accountable to myself and my family, I'm accountable to teachers, both instructors and customers. My participation in the education community, by default, necessitates and deserves professional representation.

In brief, trepidation, innovation, intuition and risk are a normal part of the blogging experience. Throw in a dash of my own good judgment and a sprinkling of support from people I respect and I can open up, letting those thoughts get a little air (of course, don't want to be TOO open-minded for fear my brain will fall out altogether, but that's for another post).

Comments

[Kate Olson]

Well, thanks for including my blog in your post (NB)! After all I went through trying to come to my decision to put my name on my blog, I'm feeling great about it. Thanks for all the help you've given me.