So my "meta-analysis" is not going to be formal or "academic" but I just can't bring myself to write a story when the title of the piece includes the word analysis. I just can't do it. I looked at storybird and prezi. Neither one really seemed like a viable option to me. I even thought about repurposing my storystones, but I just couldn't do it. So I'm just going to be upfront about this. That being said, if there's one thing (one of many…but this is truly the biggest) that I've learned from this class, it's that I dig blogging. I like writing. I like explaining what I'm doing. So this is the format I've decided to use. Yup (note the informal voice). A blog post.
I talked about my lack of an audience in an earlier post. And I'm okay with this. I've had a few people read my posts, and fewer comments. The thing about it is, I don't really care about the comments and readers and such in a way that is going to make me sad, angry, or whatever. I mean, I like it when someone gives me a shout out on Twitter, but it's my friend/teacher who is doing it. It's nice to see "retweet" and favorites, but I'm not checking for them and such. Blogger has a nice feature that allows you to track pageviews. Most of mine (over 700) are from me tweaking, editing, and reloading (due to some super crazy internet issues). I've liked blogging because I've been able to connect it to myself and my stories. It has just made sense to me.
Twitter was more difficult for me to grasp than blogger. I'm not sure I still understand its full potential. I think retweets are good, but the most powerful aspect of the experience should be the conversations. They have been okay for me. They seem a bit forced still. We (luckily) had a small class, but it seemed that only a few people really participated in the twitter beast. If I didn't go on for a couple of days, then I would get completely lost. It's also weird that I don't know (face to face know) people who are following me. It's not a "stranger danger" thing for me, but is more about putting myself out there for the world to see/read/whatever.
I think when blogger and twitter are used together there is real potential for powerful conversations. I will be interested to see if my students are going to be into using either of these this year. Blogger is a certainty, but twitter is going to be an option as well.
I feel like I need to continue using both of these professionally AND personally.
Between the books and the Diigo lists, there was a ton of reading for this class. The thing about it is that this is one of the first classes I've taken where all of the reading really felt like it nested in with what we were doing. It wasn't done in an obvious way. It's not like we had class together (because it's online) and we'd reflect on the reading. It's no like we had defined conversations about the reading. I would read one of the texts (mostly Kleon's work) and think, Hey! That's exactly what we are doing. or Hey! That's what I was talking about when I wrote that blog last week. Whenever I wrote about the act of blogging or using twitter or shared drafts of what I was creating (an awful thing, but worth it when you get it right) I thought about Show Your Work. The actual act of creating and writing creatively, making connections, and remixing things were definitely more in line with Steal Like an Artist. Because that's what I dig (hey...Dig Storytelling) this book is way more engaging for me. If (when?) I get to the point where sharing is more important to me, then I feel SYW will resonate more and require another read.
While Kleon's books helped me focus on my work with this class, A Whole New Mind and Creative Confidence have helped (and will help) me as a teacher. I take that back, they already have helped me. Because I read AWNM a few years ago, it was nice looking at the book (especially the chapter on storytelling) with a fresh brain and different lens. While I had heard of David Kelley (and Creative Confidence), what really struck me was when I got to the more practical (in my mind) activities close to the back of the book. I've done a few of the activities in the piece, and they're active and make you think in different ways. I'm excited to put more of these into practice in my classroom.
I appreciate that the readings (including...maybe especially the articles) were all focused, relevant, and fresh.None of it Some of the Kelley book annoyed me (it's a good thing my skimming abilities are kind of awesome), but the rest of the readings, at least the ones I did (I didn't read ALL of the diigo pieces, but I did read most of them), were awesome.
Between the books and the Diigo lists, there was a ton of reading for this class. The thing about it is that this is one of the first classes I've taken where all of the reading really felt like it nested in with what we were doing. It wasn't done in an obvious way. It's not like we had class together (because it's online) and we'd reflect on the reading. It's no like we had defined conversations about the reading. I would read one of the texts (mostly Kleon's work) and think, Hey! That's exactly what we are doing. or Hey! That's what I was talking about when I wrote that blog last week. Whenever I wrote about the act of blogging or using twitter or shared drafts of what I was creating (an awful thing, but worth it when you get it right) I thought about Show Your Work. The actual act of creating and writing creatively, making connections, and remixing things were definitely more in line with Steal Like an Artist. Because that's what I dig (hey...Dig Storytelling) this book is way more engaging for me. If (when?) I get to the point where sharing is more important to me, then I feel SYW will resonate more and require another read.
While Kleon's books helped me focus on my work with this class, A Whole New Mind and Creative Confidence have helped (and will help) me as a teacher. I take that back, they already have helped me. Because I read AWNM a few years ago, it was nice looking at the book (especially the chapter on storytelling) with a fresh brain and different lens. While I had heard of David Kelley (and Creative Confidence), what really struck me was when I got to the more practical (in my mind) activities close to the back of the book. I've done a few of the activities in the piece, and they're active and make you think in different ways. I'm excited to put more of these into practice in my classroom.
I appreciate that the readings (including...maybe especially the articles) were all focused, relevant, and fresh.
