Reading and Writing (aka Thing 2)

So I did Thing 1.  Moved on to Thing 2 – reading and commenting on blogs.  Ok so I’ve read blogs before, nothing too daunting there, but it was interesting to see a) how little some have done with their blogs (hooray, I’m not alone in that!) and b) how active some that have signed up to this course already are (I applaud you guys!).

I read one post from a new blogger that mentioned being nervous yet looking forward to the potential development to be achieved from doing the 23 things.  I can fully appreciate this perspective and I’m sure it is shared by many, many bloggers (indeed it probably explains the lack of activity on some of the blogs I looked at).  Likewise, my inner dialogue is something like... what do I have to say that is worth anyone else reading?  Isn't all this blogging stuff kind of self-absorbed?  But that's the world we live in now - sorry not self-absorbed, I mean everything is accessible to anyone (sort of).  So I guess it is worthwhile finding out about it.  Actually it is probably most worthwhile to get involved rather than not given that it can impact on how we are perceived by others.  It would seem that when people “google” us people may get a picture of us that we don’t necessarily like.  Blogging in itself can (potentially) change that.   I’m very frustrated that I cannot remember where I read this as it is probably somewhere really obvious, like the cpd23 introductory blurb, but I’ve looked and can’t find it.

One blogger linked to this very interesting article about how blogging in work increases productivity.  What’s really interesting for me about this article is the mention of in-person connections being stimulated by online connections. This is something I became interested in following the Tweet-ups that have quickly become a big part of engagement in Twitter. It’s something that I have wanted to research further – the explosion on online interaction over the last 10-15 years, the idea that online communication is replacing in-person communication, but then the possibility that online interaction is prompting in-person interaction, consequently the theory that we inherently need in-person relationships and will always gravitate towards that.

My yearning to do research continues…

So to conclude Thing 2 – I’m enjoying this cpd.  I’ve enjoyed reading what others have to say and I have commented a little bit.  It’s only the first day and I’m already feeling very good about this course and looking forward to whatever developing I can achieve as we continue.

Let's start at the very beginning... (aka Thing 1)

This is my new blog; set up as part of the 23 Things course.  I have used social networking for a while through Facebook and Twitter.  I have dipped my toe in to Linkedin and Ecademy, although don't do a great deal with them.  I do have other blogs, but as they were set up some time ago and each have only 2 or 3 posts I clearly do not use them very often.

So, I decided to set up a new blog; one that I can use for my "in work" CPD.

The 23 Things course really fits in with my curiosity about online methods of reaching out to "customers".  It's not that online things are new to me so much as their potential to be applied to my workplace is, as yet, to be fully explored.  Finding time to explore their potential is always an issue, but this course looks like it will take me through that without the blind seeking that I would have to do otherwise.  Yes, I could stumble upon something useful, but I want to know what else there is!

I'm not sure what I'll get out of the Librarianship training options in week 7 as the team I work in is on the fringes of the library, but I do see this as an opportunity to tweak skills and take what I can from what is presented to us.  I'm not expecting to be in my current role forever!  Every day teaches us something new and every step we take can lead us to a future we had never anticipated.  So let's see... maybe I'll be a librarian one day!  Whatever the future, I always aim to use what I learn - everything is useful.