Week 2 Review: Doug - Off the Record
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Doug Peterson, an instructor at the University of Windsor, runs a simple, but well-established blog called "Doug - Off the Record." I was drawn to this particular blog because it seems significantly more personal than some others available to review. Reflection is an important aspect of teaching and learning, and I was interested to find out what that may look like for a seasoned teacher. I was not at all disappointed, and I feel as though I got to know Doug through his posts. Although he taught very different subjects (Data Processing, Computer Science, Accounting, General Business Studies, and Mathematics) as a secondary educator, I learned a great deal about many ins and outs of teaching that we don't necessarily have enough time to cover in our education curriculum.
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Perhaps my favorite section of Doug's blog was the "Interviews" page, where he has transcribed dozens of interviews he conducted with educators around the world. Not only does he take advantage of the opportunity to learn by conversing with these teachers, he also set up his blog to allow comments and interactions with his readers, so that they may connect with the interviewee and others. Many have crossed paths previously, and others are eager to ask questions of Doug and the teachers he talks with. The interviews cover a range of topics as well. For example, in his interview with ELL teacher Vicky Loras of Switzerland, they discuss not only teaching technology, but the benefits of learning multiple languages, particularly in Europe. I admire Doug's ability and willingness to explore the many avenues available in education.
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I also thoroughly appreciate Doug's perspective on various topics, because oftentimes I haven't considered a certain angle and his posts make me reconsider some of my opinions. For example, he recently wrote a brief post about the value of word clouds, which I previously considered a waste of valuable class time. I had never thought of it from a computer science standpoint, as he discusses in the post. Nor had I ever tried to imagine a practical application for a word cloud, but he lists a number of ideas, "great bulletin board displays, front pages for their student blogs, cover pages for books, and so much more." Doug's blog shows the immense value of reflecting on personal perspective and experience throughout every post. He has created a unique opportunity for teachers to connect through little issues that affect us all.