It is a bit mind boggling for me but my blog is one year old!
And this post is the 160th post!
I started this blog wondering if blogging was something I could do and would I be writing for only for me, myself and I. Lets face it – how many people out there deal with teaching English as a FOREIGN LANGUAGE to deaf students?
A year later I can safely say that differences in classroom setting don’t matter much – there are so many issues all teachers have in common, especially those who also teach English as a foreign language. What matters is an openness and willing to take up though provoking issues and discuss them.
Over this past year I have “met” a large number of impressive educators who feel that education isn’t something we should take for granted but must explore its “whys” and “why nots” and are not afraid of the question “what if…”.
I can’t imagine life without all of you now! This blog will certainly have a second year!
So, besides inviting you all to enjoy the puffin pictures we took on the island of Skellig Michael in Ireland, there are TWO challenges!
Why two?
Because my blog has two distinct parts.
Sunday thru Friday it is a respectable, professional blog.
On Saturday’s it is a book lover’s blog with an occasional movie or trip thrown in (just because I feel like it!).
THE SATURDAY’S BOOK CHALLENGE
If you had a Saturday’s book category on your blog – which would be the book you would start off with?
THE VISUALISING IDEAS BLOG CHALLENGE
When I tweet with you all, particularly on #eltchat (but not only then) I feel I’m entering another space. Since this blog is called Visualising Ideas I have a mental image of the space we are in when we chat, discuss, suggest and support each other.
I imagine it as a large room that has a common area and nooks for small groups. There are no computers in this room as it is all about communication directly between people. The chairs are comfortable and there are some hammocks or sofas for people who prefer to discuss things while lounging about. I can’t decide on the colors of the walls – My current thought is that the color changes according to the mood of the discussions – bright colors for animated discussions, soothing pastels for supportive conversations, etc. The acoustics are good so that even if there are many people you don’t feel lost in noise. There would have to a free machine supplying zero –calorie soft drinks – I know a few members of my PLN that wouldn’t stay there for long without it! LOL!
So, how do you visualize our space when we are in PLN MODE?