Thing 3

Good Evening. I am enjoying expanding my knowledge regarding blogs. Up until last week, blogs were an abstract concept to me. I was aware that they existed and many people who I considered very technology savvy were utilizing them. Over the course of completing "Thing 3", I am now entering the "blogosphere" myself.
In reviewing the sample blogs, I was enlightened by the range of topics and purposes that they can serve along with the number of potential participants that can be involved. As I spent time navigating these sites, I was a little overwhelmed with the amount and variety of information that they contain. I could get lost in my "browsing" in some blogs. I did find some interesting sites including: "Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs" and "The 100 Most Inspiring Blogs". I also googled a search for blogs that relate to speech pathology and found many speech language pathology blog sharing sites in which I can investigate further later this week.
Commenting on other blogs "feels" uncomfortable to me at this time. It reminds me of making a "cold call" when I was in sales in my younger days prior to entering the educational setting. I posted a comment on an individual's review of utilizing an age appropriate book with an augmentative communication device and one to a fellow classmate. Neither posting that I responded to had a name attached to it and I felt that I was making more of a editorial comment rather than engaging in a communicative exchange. I suppose, if I get a posting back, possibly I will have a name in the reply and potentially start a more personal interaction.
I appreciate the explanation regarding what a "Dashboard" is all about. I was confused after I set up my blog last week. I have adjusted my settings so I think I will be able to receive posting and ease of communication. I look forward to continuing to navigate other blogs to support my engagement with other colleagues for suggestions in utilizing these sites to further engage my students. Gregory Jacoby