I started this blog after returning from ISTE13. Fired up
with a rejuvenated passion, I decided to start blogging. I recruited two of my
favorite colleagues, Michelle and Diane. They loved the idea of building a
positive digital footprint and to model the 21st century learning
for our students. We voted 2:1 for the name Moodle Angels because we love using
Moodle in our curriculum and since we teach Religion and were ladies, we just
couldn’t think of anything better than Angels.
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| Moodle Angles. This was our "fierce" pose. Photo courtesy of Reinbold Photography |
After naming our blog, our next step was to get some decent
photos of us. Thankfully, our school photographer is the photography instructor
and was kind enough to give us copies of our yearbook photos. Students and
faculty members waiting in line raised their eyebrows when the three of us
posed for a group photo. We didn’t bother to explain to them that we were going
to be edufamous bloggers and needed professional photos for our bios. They will
find out later.
So with fantasies of becoming the sliced bread of
Educational Technology and Catholic Religious Studies, we started our blog.
This is when we learned an ugly truth.
Blogging is hard!
First challenge of blogging is the discipline. Writers need
to dedicate time to write. The three of us find many excuses to keep ourselves
from sitting down and write. We have kids. We have a long commute. We can’t
keep our eyes open past 9 p.m. The mountain laundry threatens to create an
avalanche that may smother one of the weaker children. Bottom line, in order to
maintain an active blog, we need to create a habit of writing.
The second challenge of blogging is that whatever we write
will be posted on the internet for anyone to see. Anyone, including our
employers, Bishop Van, or Superintendent Greg Dhuyvetter. Will I write
something that unintentionally reflects my school in a negative light? Will I write
something that appears to challenge the Catholic Church? Will I spell
Dhuyvetter incorrectly? Oh the pressure! I admit that the concern paralyzes me
and prevents me from writing.
The third challenge is that although any can read the posts
on this blog, it feels like NO ONE is reading this blog. The only comments this
blog have received are from me when I share a post on Google+. Why create the
time to write and conquer my paranoia only to have no one read the post I
ignored the laundry to write and bravely posted?
Indeed, why? Why should I go through the effort?
One answer I give myself is that I am reminded that I do
enjoy writing. I do enjoy sharing about my journey through technology and teaching.
Even if I do feel like I am in a padded room talking to myself, I don’t lose
hope that maybe one day someone other than Michelle will read our blog and post
a comment.
Just the act of blogging itself keeps me humble and reminds
me to behave considerately to reluctant writers who do not eagerly embrace the
idea of blogging as I do. I am practicing what I am preaching.
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