Best individual blog: http://ideasandthoughts.org/ Dean Shareski is a bit like the trickster raven in aboriginal mythology: sometimes he plays jester, but pay attention! Dean’s posts always make me think. He pushes me to reflect. I have learned a lot from his blog, in his open classroom sessions, in K-12 online presentations, and yes, on Twitter.
Best individual tweeter: http://twitter.com/CourosA “Tweeting” makes it sound rather insignificant, but Alec Couros’ influence on my thinking about open learning, community, generosity, networks, connectivism, family …well, on the stuff of life in general, has been quite profound. He is always pointing the way to the good things. And, having met him, I know he is who he represents himself to be online. No BS, straight goods, kindness, transparency, all in a flow of 140 characters or less.
Best group blog: http://polar09.yesican-science.ca/ Susan Stiff and Diane Hammond have created a great place for students to connect with science and scientists. Our class took part in a series of web casts with polar scientists followed by blog connections– a one-of-kind opportunity for kids. Theirs is such an amazing resource.
Best new blog: http://rippleeffect.edublogs.org/ Jaki Braidwood is a colleague who has got the whole thing goin’ on. She’s new to blogging, but is such a pro. What a rich experience she provides her students!
Best class blog: http://wyatt67.edublogs.org/ Imagine being classroom teacher to not just 30 kids but over 500 kids (I am certain it was way more). Sue’s blogging challenge (her 3rd one) was a brilliant way to bring my new students into the community of bloggers and stretch their skills. She  has helped countless students and teachers become better bloggers.

Best student blog: http://danielwh16.edublogs.org/ I purposely did not nominate any of my current students, although I have outstanding bloggers this year. I nominate a Huzzahnian grad (whose reports I no longer write!). Daniel was my student last year and is in his second year as a blogger. I suggest looking back to his first post here to understand how far he’s come. Daniel is a gaming fan, a significant passion he has cultivated into an expertise. Take a look at his latest posts–I think this 12 year old should be writing for gaming magazines. Beyond his writing skill, Daniel is very generous with his comments and support to other bloggers. A great role model.

Best teacher (leader) blog: http://pairadimes.davidtruss.com/I am actually cheating on this one because David Truss is technically an administrator, but he is always a teacher. I think it is time the Edublog Awards recognize the influence of blogging administrators. David has always been an educator who reflects on his practice. The whole community benefits from his thinking out loud, as well as his encouragement.
Best librarian / library blog: http://bookminder.blogspot.com/ I feel Lesley Edwards is MY librarian. If I am looking for something, she and her six beejillian Delicious links are where I go. Such a sharer and encourager. Too bad for her district that she will retire soon, but lucky us that she is the epitome of a life-long learner.

Best educational tech support blog: http://theedublogger.com/ There is no conflict here: they could not pay Sue Waters enough to do what she does to keep blogs of all kinds afloat. Fast, efficient, helpful, and not without attitude, Sue has profoundly affected my growth as a blogging teacher.

Best educational use of a social networking service: http://elementarytechteachers.ning.com/ Even though I am not a tech teacher, I found this to be a rich community.  This wiki was started by Nedra Isenberg in April 2008 and her welcoming attitude has kept it active–as has the generous, talented membership. I think I was member 35. There are well over 800 members in this niche Ning.

Best resource sharing blog: http://paulhami.edublogs.org/ Paul Hamilton gave the first blogging workshop I ever attended and has been a tremendous encouragement to me. His blog addresses special education, but the title reflects his UDL philosophy: Free Resources from the Net for EVERY Learner–Educational and Assistive Technology to support Universal Access and Universal Design for Learning. I am always seeking ways to address diversity in my classroom; his blog is often my first stop, and if I am lucky, I get to talk to him face to face.

Most influential blog post: http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/07/17/student-and-teacher-blogging-that-succeeds/ Yes, Dean Shareski’s post is more than a year old, but I continue to quote and share it. It is essential context for sustaining blogging in the classroom.

There you have it.

Image: puzzled hearts water refractions by Lin R0n

I know not every tool of value is listed there. VoiceThread is missing, so is FlikrStorm. And some of these tools just leave me scratching my head: Plol- the Pablic Library or Law (hmm, help with praking tickuts?) and Foamy which asks, “Do you owe someone a beer?”.

I am really curious about what drives the creativity behind these apps. Are people inventing tools to create a need or do these tools meet real needs that can’t be addressed any other way? And does this matter? Maybe the true creativity comes after the fact when people find uses for applications that the inventor hadn’t imagined.

Dan Meyer blogged about Animoto and Wordle, suggesting that beyond the cool factor, which shouldn’t be a factor, they have little value in education:

…for classroom purposes we need to stop judging these tools on the quality of their output rather on the rigor of their input and the interpretation of their output.

(Dan did recant his complete rejection of Wordle when a reader named Rich used it to calculate the mode of a set of numbers.)

To Dan’s criteria, I would add that using a tool should create a positive change–in the way a person (user or viewer) thinks, feels, or perceives. And the quality of change determines the value of that tool. In this context, change = learning.

Recently, Sue Waters presented a workshop on personal learning networks, and shared reader responses about their most important tools in creating and sustaining their networks. I said that RSS, Diigo, Nings like Classroom 2.0, and blogging conversations were my lifeline tools. She created the diagram here to show reader responses. Sue, Elaine Talbert, and other contributors may have convinced me of the value of Twitter, and I may take it up before the summer is over.

I am going to use Wordle with my Gr. 6 students: in math for demonstrating mode and the birthday paradox (suggested by Jason Dyer), and in language arts using this clever idea for puzzles from Winston Breen. And maybe, just maybe my students will find another purpose for the tool that no one has thought of yet. That would be cool.

I am about three months into building my online PLN. I have many wonderful colleagues at school and in my master’s cohort, and I love face-to-face learning with them. In person connection is my first choice always.

What the online community provides me with is bizarre combination of the random and the specific. It’s really non-linear. Some things I trip over, and other things I seek out. Both processes give me A-ha! moments. Because I am in charge of my learning (choosing to engage, observe, ponder, reject), I am the do-it-yourselfer–I am my own cognitive plumber and electrician. My best tools at this point are RSS, Diigo, Nings like Classroom 2.0 , and the blogging conversations I’ve joined. What helps my learning most is feedback.

I listened to a ustream of Clarence Fisher’s presentation at the Building Learning Communities conference in Boston, and an idea that sticks in my colander is teacher as network administrator. This is not to be confused with the tech support job. We can help our students build their own learning networks by helping them access the tools and learn the strategies to use them wisely and effectively. We can point them at the resources and content that might resonate for them so they can create their own PLNs.

I would love to have a better PLN close to home, but for now there isn’t a good venue to ask the question, “Is anyone trying X? How’s it working? Can we experiment together?”. That would move my DIY to DIT–do it together.

Hmm. Something to aspire to.

Image: sky blues by Saffana Creative Commons license

Is it just content?

It’s certainly important to me–after all, I am reading to learn and reflect on what others are saying. I appreciate practical advice on how to use 2.0 tools from people like Ann, Sue Waters, and Paul Hamilton. Other bloggers expand my understanding about the “big ideas” in learning and technology. David Warlick, David Truss, and Dina Strasser make me think.

What about design?

I must admit, some blogs make me a little crazy. I’m just not good with visual distractions like Vokis (the flapping hair in particular), animated advertisements, or really crowded sidebars. There are some pretty elegant sites out there, ones that are easy on the eyes. Dan Meyer’s blog fits this category.

The Tone

I am not sure if there is another word to describe this–is it attitude? Some blogs have a respectful presence, an ethic that builds community–Dean Shareski and Clarence Fisher come to mind. I think in part it is the way they handle new ideas and how they respond to people who comment on their blogs. I get the sense I would like to work with these folks. I bet they would make great colleagues. Some blogs are feisty, poking at the establishment, or offering up contrarian opinions. Good.

Then there are a few blogs that leave me feeling squirmy. The tone is superior, dismissive, too cool–and rude. Yes, I do read them. I have a morbid curiosity about them, I guess. What would it be like to share a staffroom with them? Would I feel safe?

Blogs I don’t (yet) read

I would love to see more blogs by classroom teachers who are not tech specialists, who are using 2.0 tools effectively in the content areas. I’d love to find blogs by drama teachers or art teachers who just blog, but don’t necessarily use technology directly. And I want to read more student blogs by kids who are not just responding to teacher prompts. I better get searching.

So, what are your criteria?

How do you choose your blogroll?

Image: I Love Books by Weeping-Willow under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic license