Blogging, not so uncool!

While surfing the web I came across a few really cool blog sites. They are listed below.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum has a blog titled, Eye Level. It is really engaging. The blog that really caught my eye was about the movie Night at the Museum. The author relates the movie to artworks in the museum. The author even offers a thought provoking question: "What work of art would you choose for your very own Night at the Museum experience?" (Smithsonian American Art Museum) Eye Level talks about the latest art news but offers valid opinions and inspiration. Before leaving a comment they instruct the reader to keep in mind that any comments that are unrelated to the blog will not be published. Reading that reminded me of the article in which Jill Walker talks about the importance of reviewing blogs in a respectful manner. She reminds readers and students that it is important to remember that the blogger is a real person with real feelings. I think for the most part Walker thinks that it is important to be courteous to fellow bloggers. The blogger does have the ability to reciprocate the same response. Vegard Johansen made a good point about not commenting on blogs if you do not have a positive remark to make. I think that Johansen and Walker stressed the importance of constructive criticism done in a respectful manner. I believe people benefit from criticism or advice when it is helpful as opposed to outlandish, rude, and insidious.

As a learning tool, the blog has the potential to grasp the attention of many. The writing style is comprehensive. The blogger uses photographs and provides links to other websites. The learning does not stop at the website but extends to other sites. The blogger asks the reader questions that are not complex but help the reader better understand the content of the article. The blog presents the Smithsonian American Art Museum as an informal learning environment.

The blog also talks about upcoming shows and the impact on the community. This site is really rich with information and insight into the museum world. There is even a blog featuring Bill Viola, where he talks about his experiences with technology, art, science, and life. Bill Viola states, "Like it or not we are woven together in a way that has not happened in human history."


http://eyelevel.si.edu


(Bill Viola, Three Women, 2008, color high-definition video on plasma display mounted on wall; performers: Anika, Cornelia, Helena Ballent, Photo: Kira Perov)


The next blog site I found was truly informative. At first while I was browsing, I began to think to myself this blogger is really technical. The blog was swarming with information. It was too much to digest at one time so I began to skim through the collection. I landed upon a blog titled, Let’s Just Scare the #$%& Out of Them, Ok? It was published on August 22, 2008. The blogger talked about the dangers of networks such as MySpace. A police officer went to a high school with photos of a student. Before speaking to the student body he asked for a particular student to identify herself. Then he proceeded to show photos from her MySpace page to the whole student body. The student dashed out of the assembly in tears. The police officer embarrassed her. He justified his actions by telling a story of a young lady who was taken advantage of on MySpace. She was abducted, raped and killed because she was unaware of the dangers of social networking.

I agree that it is more beneficial for the students if the teachers educate them on the dangers of social networking. The blogger offers a suggestion to teachers: "Go to your principal or superintendent right now and ask her/him this: Would you really rather have your students learn about safety online from some “authority” figure who drops in and attempts to make them fearful, or from people who they know and trust and see every day in their classrooms who over the course of time in appropriate and balanced ways can educate them instead?" (http://weblogg-ed.com)

Weblogg-ed made me aware of the potential dangers in cyberspace and social networking. I also learned the importance of the teacher informing the students of the pros and cons of the World Wide Web. The architecture of the blog was kind of bland but the writing was well articulated. It wasn't an easy read due to the lack of pictures and variation in text but I did enjoy the speech bubbles, where the blogger is highlighting key points of the post. The blogger is educating teachers on the importance of technology in the classroom. At some points the blogger rambles on and on until he gets to the vital info. The rambling is something I find characteristic of some blogs I have browsed through. There are few parameters, the author has total control over the direction of the blog and has the freedom to be inconsistent in the post. There should be accountability of some sort. I believe the author should acknowledge his or her readers by writing posts that flow cohesively.

The Coolest Website Ever

http://kidzartblog.com/

I think this was the most comprehensive and engaging blog of all time.

The intended audience is parents of students, and educators who are looking for creative resources. The site is filled with easy lessons such as creating sculptural art using recyclable materials, tips on setting up a home studio, and the benefits of art in schools.

Excerpt from website http://kidzartblog.com: "At KidzArt, we’re committed to developing your child’s resourcefulness, imagination and originality to make them the innovators of tomorrow. Let us know your ideas and the different ways that you inspire your children to use their creative thinking and problem solving skills." I believe that KidzArt has developed a friendly site. The blog entries do not bombard you with information. There is adequate visual space between entries. The site uses pictures to show happy children presenting their artwork to the world. I think the pictures also illustrate confident children that are proud of their creations. In relation to participatory culture KidzArt creates a art community that consists of parents and teachers. This community is accessible by both groups. I believe this site can be used for networking and collective intelligence. The creators of this site want parents, children and teachers to be active in the art community. There is even a link on the left side of the page that allows you to search for art classes near you. There is a link to a parent's website, http://www.lovelongandprosper.com/cherylyn/?p=161, where she is videotaping herself and her son explaining an art piece.