Although I am aware of what a blog is and
have seen blogs posted on the internet, I had not followed any particular blogs
until now. Blogs which are often
described as personal diaries provide an opportunity to share one’s thoughts and
opinions with others – assuming of course, that you have a desire and/or you
feel compelled to share your thoughts and your wisdom and/or lack of wisdom, with
others. I have not had the opportunity to view
everyone’s blog, but let me begin by stating that those I have seen are quite
interesting, informative, well written and an enjoyable read.
When I looked up the definition of a blog
on the internet what I found reaffirms my suspicion that blogging is a form of
social networking. I know Wikipedia is
not exactly the most reliable source of referencing, but this is my blog, so
bear with me. Wikipedia does provide one some interesting tidbits on when it all
began (referring to blogs of course). My first impression of blogging is an exercise performed by a very specific type of individual – namely one who has
a desire to share their thoughts and opinions with others. I did not, quite honestly, think for one moment
that blogging was for those of us who do not possess that inherent desire to
‘share.’ This type of sharing could make
one uncomfortable as blogging can definitely take one out of their comfort
zone. I know you must be wondering what
the point is and I shall get to it. The
point I am so laboriously trying to make, is that writing a blog to share with
others has taken me out of my comfort zone. It was not something I anticipated
having to do for a class assignment. On the other hand, it has
however forced me to examine the role of identity and one's experiences along the way. As quoted by James Baldwin:
“Experience is a private, and a very largely speechless affair”
James Baldwin
James Baldwin
Although I initially became uncomfortable
when I found out we had to write a blog,
this assignment has provided me with an opportunity to go deeper into the water as described by Professor Plumb.
I am admittedly, the type of
individual who more often than not, would stand on shore watching others delve
deep into the water. I realize now that the 'mental zone' where I felt a safe sense of
security had to be breached if I am to learn anything from this
experience. What I have had to do is to let
go of the anxiety I associated with blogging – those thoughts or mental
boundaries that nagged at me such as a blog must definitively capture the
reader’s attention, one must appear confident , intelligent, knowledgeable,
informed, well read…and the list goes on and on.
Admittedly, one should at the very least, have
an understanding and basic grasp of the topic they have chosen, thus some blogs
of course will be better than others.
But what is also important is what Professor Plumb describes as the
immersing of oneself into the water’s current - posting that blog for the first
time for others to read represented that
first step away from the shore and into the water. I suddenly began to realize as I write blog
number two that this assignment has forced me to examine different concepts of
learning and what role our identity plays in that process of learning.
In my previous blog I mention how learning is not stagnant and that the transfer
of knowledge from teacher to student provides only one process of
learning.
We all strive to be heard and to be
acknowledged and as supported in Bracher's
Radical Pedagogy, (2006)...‘the fundamental aim of education should be to
support and develop students’ identities.’
The importance of self identity which affects how we learn is crucial
and affects both how and what we learn. Bracher (2006) stresses that in order to promote effective learning, the importance of a developed and secure sense of identity should not be overlooked. It is not surprising that sometimes we worry about how we see ourselves,
we worry about how others see us and we worry about how we perceive that others
see us. It is only when we move away
from these mental barriers that we begin to grow and to participate actively in
the learning experience. The process of
defining oneself is also found in the second principle of Kwanzaa
known as Kukichagulia or self-determination which is described as providing an
opportunity to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak
for ourselves. We are basically responsible for ourself and for creating our own destiny.
Wenger's social learning theory also includes four vital
components necessary for social participation which include meaning, practice, community
and one’s identity. Wenger describes identity as ‘a way of
talking about how learning changes who we are and creates personal histories of
becoming in the context of our communities’ (1998, p. 5). Thus participating in writing a blog for GSLL
6206, Section 80 can be described as both a kind of action and a form of
belonging to a community of learning.
This assignment has forced me out of my comfort zone, yet has provided for
me an opportunity to learn more about myself and my identity, as well as
providing a small glimpse into the identity of others.
Being forced out of one’s comfort zone is
in itself a process of learning which helps to shape our identity. I think perhaps part of the initial
discomfort in writing and sharing a blog may in part have stemmed from the fact
that our mark this semester will be based in large part on the
quality of one’s blog. However perhaps what
is not so important is how eloquent one’s blog appears, as much as it is about
a learning process - knowing who you are and what you are capable of and/or
examining what helps to construct and influence one’s identity. It is also an opportunity to examine what obstacles may or may not interfere
with one’s learning. Our identities
shape each and every one of us. It is interesting
that these blogs have provided that little glimpse necessary to find out a
little bit more about each other – our thoughts and opinions, regardless of the
topic, that may not have been as eagerly and/or as readily shared with others. Hence, I look forward to reading more blogs
which will no doubt enrich my learning experience. As quoted by James Baldwin:
“An identity would seem to be arrived at by the way in which the
person faces and uses his experience.”
James Baldwin
James Baldwin
References
Bracher, M.
(2006). Radical pedagogy: Identity, generativity, and social transformation.
New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning
and identity. New York:
Cambridge University Press.
Cambridge University Press.
I like how you connected the importance of self- identity as described by Bracher (2006) to the Kwanzaa principle of Kujichagulia or self-determination. It is nice to see that an African way of teaching can be supported by research, even though it may be indirectly (as I haven’t read all of Radical Pedagogy by Mark Bracher (2006) yet). I agree with Bracher (2006) that learning only happens when one is secure in their sense of self. If the principles were integrated within the school systems it would promote a sense of self and identity therefore laying the foundation for learning to take place. For students to have a strong self- identity, I feel they need to be able to learn about themselves and see themselves reflected within the curriculum in positive ways. This is turn will lead to students being able to make meaningful connections to their learning, creating greater success overall.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree:"Being forced out of one’s comfort zone is in itself a process of learning which helps to shape our identity".
ReplyDeleteWe constantly negotiate the meaning of things, that in itself is progress. Therefore that what once was, may no longer be. Learning in that sense is Hope; comfort in knowing that as the world turns and changes so do we.
Thank you for your post!
Once I read your blog, I could understand it when you explained that you came out of your comfort zone to actually participate in attaching your blog to the internet. I think we create a community of practice when we come out of whatever it is that keeps us from expressing ouselves to the public. It stand to reason that a community of practice has to be shared to be productive and it has to consist of meaningful concepts. You are so right when you say that these blogs help us to identify with not just each other, but with the rest of society.
ReplyDeleteAs you had mentioned that blogging is a form of social networking, I am in total agreement with you. If we take anything we learn and expect to make a difference without sharing what we learn, then I think our learning is in vain. When Dr. Plumb, first made mention of publishing a blog, I did not know what to expect. After I submitted the second blog I became much more comfortable and had a willingness to partake in the whole process.
Helen, your blog is a representation of a fear that I feel many of us had, when hearing about creating a blog. I am a “watch from the shoulder” type of swimmer too, mainly mentally, but often times physically too. This cohort and this course have brought me outside of my comfort zone in several ways. I feel that right now, we are all starting to create the community of practice that Wenger discusses, but that by the end of the course we will have created a strong community of practice and blogging, sharing our personal opinions, etc. will become second nature. I encourage you to “keep on trucking on” stick yourself in the river and swim. As many of us will be making the leap into the river together.
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