Discovering Blogging...

I didn't have a clue about blogging until a few months ago when a friend shared with me her postings on the web. My first impression was that blogging is a means of expressing oneself and communicating with others. It never occurred to me that it can also be a medium of communication for online learning until now.

One of the first requirements for enrolling in 23 Things for Educators and Trainers is to create a blog. The first question that came to mind was "how on earth do I do that?" I've had the chance of reading my friend's initial drafts to give her my five cents worth and the next time I get to read them is when they are neatly published in a nicely laid out web page. I often wondered how she did it but did not attempt to ask, scared of the process being too difficult.

Now, what have I discovered a week after enrolling in the course?  That creating a blog is as easy as 1, 2, 3... I clicked on the link provided by our facilitator out of curiosity. Once I did, I felt there's no turning back. The user friendly website guided me through the whole process that I couldn't help but click on "continue" all the time. The next thing I knew I was thinking of a name and choosing a template for my blog. Then, lo and behold-my own personal blog!

Had to admit, though, the most difficult part was choosing for a topic and writing about it. One thing for sure, mine is coming from the heart...

A whole new world..first visit to a virtual classroom

I just had a very interesting and memorable session in a virtual classroom at 4 o'clock on a Friday afternoon. Ten minutes before the time. I was sitting there waiting for my classmates (would have liked to call them virtual, but they're not) to arrive, with their names slowly appearing on the screen before me. I felt like I was in Kindergarten once again- uncertain and shy of what lies ahead. I had to re-learn to raise my "hand" to be given the chance to speak, to "smile" when happy with things and to draw objects on the whiteboard, all these with the click of the mouse. Call me naive, inexperienced, immature- but that's exactly how I felt.

I am a neophyte in the virtual world. I only know the basics of using email and chat for online learning. I didn't realise there's a whole new world of learning out there in a virtual classroom. I was amazed that I was interacting with people from places around New South Wales and South Australia of which I haven't been to and haven't heard of. It's gonna be an exciting 6 weeks of new discoveries and fun! I don't mind feeling like a kindergarten student for now as long as I know I'll slowly progress into maturity with all these online eye openers...