Source: http://snipurl.com/4hot2

One of the beauties of conversation is that we are inspired by others as much as others inspire us. That is, simply by being who you are, I am motivated and excited to be a better version of who I am. Does that make sense?

That’s why blogging is so powerful. Even though I am who I am, I can inspire you, as Porter Palmer shares:

Although I will respond to the actual assignment about a blog that connects to my current/future pedagogical efforts, I have to say that Twitter is the primary tool that I use to stay on top of things in the world of educational technology and media. I follow my co-workers: Steve Dembo, Hall Davidson, the DEN, Mike Bryant, and several others who don’t post very often. As if these folks weren’t posting enough cool tools, I also follow several edubloggers who regularly share links on Twitter. Some of my favorites include Lucy Gray, Vicki Davis, Kathy Schrock, and Miguel Guhlin. And if those aren’t enough, I follow Education Week and 50 more people of which more than half are Twittering about education and technology in between telling us all what they had for dinner!

I have learned more about what people are discovering from Tweets than any single blog could bring me. I especially like it when my edublogger friends’ Tweets begin with, “just blogged this…” I don’t have to guess when they might have updated. I can just click over and read their blog!

So, of the blogs that I read, I think I have to choose Miguel Guhlin’s Around the Corner and EduWrite as my favorites. Miguel just switched over to blogspot, and I found out through Twitter!

Miguel has been a leader in the field of instructional technology for quite some time. Based on his age, I think he has been doing this since he was twelve. (jk, Miguel!) What I really mean to say is that he has consistently been ahead of his peers in this field. Just check out this page of writings! Those are just the ones he hasn’t moved to his Share More! wiki.

Another reason that I rely on Miguel’s blogs is that he doesn’t seem to be drawn to fad technologies. If Miguel blogs about it, I can count on it making a difference for teachers and students. I learn from him, as if he were a mentor. Interestingly enough, we live in the same town, have never met IRL, and (until I send him this link via Twitter) he has no idea how much I respect him.
Source: Porter Palmer

I am always amazed that my writing touches other folks, and even more so when it is someone in my own city. It seems that it is so easy to imagine communicating, collaborating with others around the world, but to do so with folks in one’s own town…well, that’s a little scary, isn’t it? For me, it underscores the value of transparency…and trust.

BTW, Porter Palmer, I’ve been doing this since I was 13 years old. Really. You’d think I was better at it, right? ;->