A New Blog to Watch: Dangerously Irrelevant

On one of those late nights, I came across a reference for a survey that was seeking information regarding educational leadership. It is through this blog that I actually made SKYPE contact with the author- Scott McCleod. As Scott points out, there are "a bizillion blogs about teaching" and the use of technology. What is lacking in the field, are true discussions about change and leadership. Something as you know I have been on a soapbox about lately. People are reading but the "conversations" are lacking. Scott is making an attempt to change that. At first, by 'inviting' people he has come across through blogs and wikis and asking those people to 'invite' others that may be interested in the same topic. Scott's current teaching role is as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Policy and Administration at the University of Minnesota and Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). You can find Scott's blog at: http://www.scottmcleod.typepad.com/dangerouslyirrelevant/

Scott is celebrating his blog's 6 month birthday. Congratulations Scott!! His latest blog ironically was 'dangerously relevant' to me. I find myself in the same place. I have begun several blogs. I use one as an RSS aggregator feed but only post occasionally. This is the blog I post to most often. As I have noted that during those late night blogging sessions, I come across more information than I think my brain can handle. There is also the issue of what is important or relevant to the work I am trying to accomplish. Those of us having conversations about students blogging ask the same question. That is where the critical thinking/analysis piece comes in. In hopes of not offending Scott, but actually a compliment, I would like to share today's post. I feel compelled to share his main points as it will address many of the questions we are asking as we introduce Web 2.0 to our students. I am sure that many of the points will be applicable to students.
Here's how Scott chooses what he reads:

1. I rarely read blogs that are focused on classroom instruction. Not because they don't have interesting things to say, but because there simply are too many of them and because my focus is leadership. I started blogging at Dangerously Irrelevant because I wanted to try out blogging and because I felt there was a leadership orientation that often was missing from what I read in the education blogosphere. I have come to the pleasant realization that there are more leadership types out there than I originally believed, and I tend to read them and others that are dealing with school-, district-, state-, or federal-level leadership and policy issues.
2. I stick with blogs that regularly cause me to think. We blog for different reasons. I'm attracted to those bloggers that are regularly wrestling with ideas and issues. I don't care if they're re-hashing old stuff; for them that stuff may be new and they may cause me to rethink something. I'm interested in the thoughtful, reflective interplay of personality with problem. If someone causes my brain to say "Huh!" or "Wow, that was good." or "I'm not sure I quite get that. Let me think on that a while." on a regular basis, he or she has a dedicated spot in my aggregator.
3. I gravitate toward bloggers who create resources that are helpful and add value. Many of us blog. Few of us create resources that can be used by others. I am grateful for those who do.
4. I appreciate cleverness and passion. If you are witty, write distinctively or passionately, make me laugh, or are good for a memorable quote now and then, I'm yours.
5. I like bloggers who aren't afraid to challenge the status quo. Some of educators' most-cherished beliefs and practices are up for reconsideration in this new technological era. I like bloggers who are willing and interested in at least rethinking, if not always revising, what we're doing.
6. I follow interesting comments. One of the best ways I find new voices is by clicking on the names of folks who have left an interesting comment on my own blog or someone else's. I'll peruse their blogs and, if I like what I see, I'll add them to the area in my aggregator that's reserved for folks I'm trying out. After a month or two, I'll either move them to a more permanent area or replace them with someone new.
7. I track links from those I trust. If a blogger I respect links to someone, I'll usually follow the trail. If that person is reading you, chances are I might like you too.
8. I don't filter by ideology, but I rarely read bloggers who are grumpy. I try to expose myself to different perspectives and viewpoints, but I don't have time to waste on people who have a tendency to complain or bring down others. I believe in the old saw that one should 'criticize ideas, not people.' If bloggers frequently use personally-insulting language, denigrate others, and/or grouse about stuff, I'm not going to read them much. I try really hard to stick with those folks when I think their content is good, but in the end their delivery gets in the way of their message.

Scott, thank you for provoking even more thought and discussion. I do believe that educational leaders are the key in promoting and leading the use of technology. It is their voice I (we) wish to hear.