Yes, there is no question about it! We want you to blog your way through Poland! The purpose of the Classrooms Without Borders Blog is to maintain a continuous channel of interactive communication among the participants in the 2011 Study Seminar to Poland. It’s a great way to share your spontaneous thoughts about the sites you’ll see, the people you’ll meet, the discussions you’ll enjoy and, yes, even the food you’ll eat. You can talk about all these experiences on the blog because each of the experiences, though shared, will be different for each of you. We can all benefit from YOUR particular, unique experience of Poland.
Each day, there will be an article, a commentary to which you should respond, posted on the blog. Think about the comments or questions posted and and then post your own responses, ideas, questions and comments. Although your travel may not permit a posting every day (although we hope you will try to do that!) as you have the opportunity on your iPad, laptop, Mac, SmartPhone, Droid, Blackberry or other device, post your comments regularly. Even a short response of a mere 100 words or so is helpful in stimulating the thinking of others and getting your colleagues engaged in the conversation.
The blog should also help you to start thinking about how you transfer what you’ve learned on the Study Seminar to Poland to your classroom practice. As a reflective practitioner, you’ll benefit from taking a few minutes each day to make some personal notes about your experiences and reactions to the day’s events. Some previous participants wrote their dates, notes and sites on a map of Poland. It served as a great visual reminder of each day’s happenings. On an intensive journey such as the one you’re about to embark on, the days, dates, places and people will become a blur unless you document your thoughts. This blog is a great way to do just that.
Remember that you are eligible for 90 hours of Act 48 Credit that you may receive through Allegheny Intermediate Unit #3 if you fulfill the pre, during and post seminar requirements. Blogging is one of those requirements.
Happy blogging!