A Homework Assignment
I'm going to put on my teaching hat now. Please forgive me in advance. Here is your assignment: I think this blog is wonderful because I'm really enjoying what you are all writing, but it only goes so far. Why don't any of you comment to each other's entries? Wouldn't you like to hear from each other? Commenting is easy (I think). Just click on the comment link and write something. How much time could that take? I could have a comment written before you get back from the fridge with that beer.
Also, you can add more to your entry by editing it, or you can create a new entry. Just go to Blogger.com and enter your username and password that you initially created in order to join our blog. Then choose the Room12Blog link and then edit an existing post or add a new one. I know from your private emails to me that many of you have a lot of things in common. For example, there are at least three of you (and I think five) that have spent time overseas learning a language. Several of you either have taught or are currently teaching. Two of you have survived cancer. Many of you have shared the same city (other than Seattle). You should all start talking to each other. In your profile (accessed through Blogger) you can include an email address, MySpace page, other blog, etc. You should do this so others can contact you. It bothers me that I know more about all of you than you do about each other. So I encourage you to comment and to contact each other.
And for you lurkers out there. DON'T BE LAZY! I know that nearly everyone that was in the old Room 12 class has been reading this blog. So post already! You don't have to tell your life story. We don't need to measure your success against others. Just say anything. What's important to you? What are you doing right now? What Word Power words do you incorporate into your vocabulary (incorporate was a Word Power word).
OK, enough rambling. Well, almost enough. When you post, post a picture already! Jared, we want to know what you look like. The rest of you who have had the courage to post so far, nice going. What a fine assemblage of human beings! You look marvelous (pipe cleaners in nose, old Roll On Columbia shirts, and all). Too bad about the Columbia, isn't it?
Keep posting!
posted by Kent @ 6:18 PM
10 Comments:
i was wondering if there was a way we could set up a bulletin board or email discussion group, where we could have more of a discussion environment as opposed to a blog. is that what the wiki is supposed to be for? if not, maybe a google groups-type setup, or something of that order, that's a bit more conducive to conversation. i think the blog is great for posting updates and keeping in touch, but i'd love to be able to have conversations too. -- jenny
I totally agree with you. That is what the wiki is for, but I'm still trying to work the bugs out. It seems I have to give permission for each person to join the wiki. Two links are sent to my school email address when a person tries to join: one for "Yes, let the person join" and one for "No." When I click on the link, the transmission gets blocked by the school district. Wouldn't you know it? I'm going to try to get this fixed by tomorrow.
Jenny, if you think a discussion group might serve this purpose better than a wiki, let's talk about it. I chose a wiki because the discussion is more organized than, say for example, instant messaging. But I'm willing to consider something else.
I'm hoping that a couple of you will get the ball rolling on this discussion. People have to be encouraged. I have heard from almost everyone now, but many are reluctant to post. There are many reasons. One is really common: People feel like they need to think of just the right thing to say. They want their remarks and the synopsis of their life to be profound. I hope people will try to remember how it was during the Room 12 meetings of long ago. They went on forever and people just spoke freely. We all cared a lot about each other, so anything that was said was accepted. No one judged anyone. I'm hoping that this spirit is still alive and that everyone will just let their thoughts flow. We shall see. I think this is turning into an unusual experiment: a social network based on the common experience of a classroom fifteen years ago. If nothing else, it's fun to watch.
the answer is yes, we can do that -- one i found in a couple minutes of searching is http://www.userplane.com/webchat/features.cfm, but i'm sure there are others, probably all with some ads attached, but i would be willing to accept that. however, i'd put forward that with the relatively small number of us here, there would probably be no more than a couple people online at once, which would make a bulletin board maybe a better way for everyone to participate in the conversation. we could always do both, and if you want to chat you can post to the bulletin board and see if anyone shows up. i'd be willing to resurrect my website and host a chat and bulletin board if we'd like to put one together. (i got distracted and kinda let it expire.) or someone who has hosting set up who wants to volunteer could do the same.
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i should have looked more closely at the wiki. there's a discussion board there. duh! but we can definitely do a chat room. let me know, and i'll put it together. -- jenny
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Hey guys, the wiki will work for a discussion, but you're going to need to get all the others involved. I have either heard from or know how to contact all but three (I think) of your former classmates. I could give you a list of all of the email addresses I have and you could do an invite. Hopefully they wouldn't mind my giving out their addresses. I am discovering that a lot of them need a little prodding. There is an element of laziness and an element of trepidation going on, so people have to get past that
Hey Mr. D, Jenny, Carmen, and Matt,
Is the wiki up and running? I tried to go to it just now, but wasn't able to find the "room12meeting" wiki.
Kate
It's at www.room12meeting.wikispaces.org. You have to create an account. Jenny, please tell her how to do it. I set up the wiki but I don't know how it looks to potential new members.
So far, there's only a post by Jenny and me. You guys will have to pester each other if you want to get this going. I would love to see discussions on topics such as "Fortress America," living through cancer, Word Power in everyday living, changing the world, alternative lifestyles, figuring out life, religion, etc., etc. The Room 12 meetings used to be great for some of these things, but you guys were only ten and eleven. Think of the meetings we could have now. You've gained a bit of wisdom with your years. But you all need to get this going if you want to. I can't. I'm not your teacher anymore (though I'd love to be).
Ahhh...I seem to be getting to the right place now. I just need to be officially added as a member. You have to put the whole address in (www...wikispaces.org) to get to the correct page, it seems.
Well, this will be great for procrastination. Hello, 21st century!
Kate
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