- Describe how you used the course blog.
I used the blog to communicate my
experiences as well as reflecting on my personal growth. It was nice to read
about others experiences, strengths and weaknesses. I do have to say I like
Blackboard better, there were some
things that I think would be discussed on a deeper level if it were not going
out there for the world to see. It was inhibitive to always be cautioning oneself
on what one is saying and how it may be taken.
I also used it to post some personal things that I do in my down time
that I think others (class mates) would not have known about me which is
perhaps a good
thing.
thing.
2. What
has your experience been with the course blog?
I
was apprehensive about using the blog in the beginning because I had tried to
help my partner with a blog he does about our farm and found it daunting. I did
get the hang of it later and it was not nearly as hard as I had anticipated it
would be.
- What about this experience stands out for you?
I think what stood out most was
that communication between some classmates was more personal in some ways and
it was nice to see some pictures that are not able to be used on
blackboard. Resources and information
sharing was about the same as it would be on blackboard
- Did anything in particular or anyone connected with the experience stand out for you?
I really cannot say that anything
in particular stood out to me other than the things mentioned above like
pictures.
- What were the advantages/disadvantages to using this over a more traditional journaling activity?
Again I would say the only
advantage really is that you can see pictures and the blogs are able to be a
little more personable, meaning that they have a background and a layout that
the author can manipulate to fit their personality. The disadvantages would be that one still had
to go to blackboard and log in then to the blog post and then to classmates
blogs and then to the URL for that student. The other disadvantage is that it
is public, I believe it would be better for a class to be only between
classmates and instructors, some things the world does not necessarily need to
see and one always had to keep themselves in check.
- What feelings were generated by the experience?
I think the feelings generated
were what the author of the particular blog was feeling came through and were
extended to the reader, feelings of anxiousness in light of taping sessions and
having others listen were shared, feelings of happiness when one had a good
experience, or sadness when one realizes that not everyone can be helped in a
way that perhaps the consensus feels would be helpful. I enjoyed reading about the same struggles
and feelings that I was experiencing and it was nice to feel encouraged by
peers and to encourage peers as well.
- What thoughts stand out for you?
I can’t say that there are any
particular thoughts that stand out for me other than trying to get used to
checking the blog assignments and the blackboard assignments felt like I was
doing twice the work sometimes. Post
certain things on blackboard, then post certain things on the blog, not that
one stop assignments are a deal breaker; I just think if everything were in one
spot I would have less of a chance of missing something.
- Are you aware of any changes in thinking while using the course blog?
I am not able to say that the blog
itself had any impact on my thinking changing; it was easier than I thought it
was going to be so that thinking has changed. The resources were about that same as any
forum I believe.
- How were your personal values and assumptions influenced?
My personal values and assumptions
were changed only in getting to know classmates a little better perhaps. The
personalization of the individual blog spots gives one a little insight into
the blogger’s personality. I did learn that my assumptions about counseling in
the public schools were pretty much right and still in many cases the same as
they were when I was in Kentucky’s public school system, one counselor to four
hundred or so students and not much
counseling going on because other duties take so much time.
Did the blog
enhance reflection, if so how?
I cannot say that the blog enhanced
reflection, if anything I would say it inhibited some aspect of freedom because
of the notion that all of the world can see what you’re saying. I am a less inhibited person personally but I
was always reminding myself that this was a public arena, It was not a freeing
notion in my personal opinion I believe that younger students would feel this inhibition
more strongly.
- What did you like about the blogging experience?
Again I have to
say the personalized spots and the ability to share pictures.
- What was challenging for you about the blogging experience.
Technology is always challenging
for me, so just getting things where they belonged and adding links and
pictures were difficult at first, but after I got the hang of it it was a little
easier.
- If you could make some suggestions about using the blog in a future course, what would you suggest?
I think I would suggest that it be
in a private forum if that’s possible, that way only students and instructors
can see what is discussed and it would free up some hesitation to share
information of a more private nature allowing uninhibited correspondence between
peers and instructors.
- Have you shared everything that is significant with reference to the experience? If not, what would you add?
I think I have shared everything relevant
to the blog itself. I would only ad that the practicum class itself has been a
very good experience. I have grown as a person and as a counselor over the past
several months. I have been able to implement the teachings I have had over the
past several years in sessions with clients. I have seen the techniques work as
I use them, It is nice to begin to feel authentic.
I agree that at times it was difficult to feel open to communicate knowing that the blog is a public forum. It can be a little scary knowing that everything we post can be seen others and I definitely do not want to break confidentiality. I feel that it was difficult to keep up with posts and comments that I had make to posts as well.
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