Do we really need another educational technology blog?

Bill Storm, the Coordinator for Instructional Technology in the Davis (CA) Joint Unified School District, has been a regular commenter on the Blue Skunk blog and his comments are usually more perceptive and well-written than the original post. So I was delighted when he sent me this  e-mail:

Hi Doug,

I’ve thought of doing this for some time, but have not felt terribly compelled since you and (a precious few) others do such amazing work with your blogs, and I figured I could get things said by participating in them.

However, I found myself writing more and more, and saying too much, so it occurred to me that “what the hell, it’s not my fault the world doesn’t really need another ed tech blog.”  I think it was your post about Sir Ken Robinson that tipped me over the brink… so I’ve taken a page out of Larry Cuban’s book and set up Bill Storm on Ed Tech, with the URL being http://billstorm.wordpress.com/.  I really have no idea if it’s going to go anywhere – I suppose that depends on the response – but the focus is going to be the stuff that kind of interests me… changing students, school culture, creativity, best practices, that sort of thing.  It’s kind of skeletal at the moment, but like Dr. Frankenstein, I’m declaring it “alive!”, for better or for worse.

You are cordially invited, though in this week of book writing, you’d best stick to your task.

Best,

Bill Storm

OK, this is probably like recommending a book you haven't actually read based on other books by that author, but I expect good stuff from Bill and I subscribed to his blog which had it excellent first post this morning. It's not exactly like I'm out a lot of money here, right?

I'm going to add my response to Bill here since it may speak to others who are comtempating going public with their ideas. A risky proposition at best for the sturdiest of egos.

Hi Bill,

I have always found writing in the Blue Skunk to be something that forces me organize and clarify my own ideas. Even if I never had a single reader (and I have long since given up on trying to track such information), the blog is still of value. [I forgot to add read Why the Blue Skunk Blog.]

I think we do all like to have an audience for our writing - both from an ego gratification standpoint,  from the helpful and challenging comments that readers post and from the faint hope that we might actually make a difference in the world. Be aware that audiences grow slowly and many bloggers give up too soon.

Bloggers are intellectual bandwidth. There can never be enough! Everyone brings unigue and often stimulating ideas to the flow.

I'm delighted to subscribe and will promote as I can.

Good luck and I look forward to reading!

Doug

Comments

[Scott McLeod]

I'm in. Thanks for passing Bill along to the rest of us!

[Jude]

I wish him luck with his venture. I subscribed. Every new perspective adds value to the discussion.

[Bill Storm]

I see that Photoshop has gone the way of the Blue Skunk. Thanks for the plug, Doug. (Are the blue chips the big ones?)

[Rachel Mangum]

I was asked by my tech integration specialist to start a blog a few weeks ago and I felt the same way. I've started blogging now though and it is a great experience. I loved how you called it "intellectual bandwidth." My experience implementing one to one netbooks in school is a unique experience and I hope I can help others but, if not it is still a great experience for me.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Bill,

But you gotta admit you look good and seem to be having fun in the photo.

I see your posts re-tweeted so you must be getting a few readers.

Good luck!

Doug

Hi Rachel,

Send me the address of your blog and I will subscribe!

Doug

[Whiteboards]

Thanks for this great list. It is surely a big help for my link building.

Whiteboards