mikes web log

Here we are for a starter and I have decided to initiate this web log by ignoring the term blog. OK, I can see that it is a useful shorthand for an online, interactive, reflective log of ones thoughts on particular subjects (mine will be science education, computers in the community, virtual learning environments and other odds and sods that come up now and again, including items linked to the language use in forums like this) but to me it looks as if this is a community that is attempting to make itself exclusive by adopting a language which is only understood by its members. I liken it to the use of words like pedagogy, cognitive, phenomenology and so on which the sociologists of our world bury themselves in. So I shall make it my aim to try avoid use of such language.

I suppose I’m on to a loser from the beginning because I would imagine the use of an exclusive language is something that gives community’s power. I can remember a paper by Benzies

Separated by a common technology? Factors affecting ICT-related activity in home and school  (How do you change the font in this area?)

Who looked at things called Communities of Practice and suggested that for a successful community members of the community need power, legitimacy and motivation so one can see that adoption of the specialist language of a community helps give you access to that community….but is this right? If you want to introduce web logging to pupils then the idea of having access to an exclusive language could be ‘cool’. I am therefore coming full circle and possibly defeating my original grump so maybe i’d better stop now and come back to this later. As somebody once said an argument is all about convincing yourself that you are right.