Current Events provided me with the first opportunity to blog. Blogging in this context required the need to research in order to be articulate, informed, and view the subject matter from the context of others. The level of accountability for comments and subject matter expert were enriched in this context because my peers are also higher education professionals. In general, I found the technology easy to use. I plan to teach an online course this summer at FRCC, so I will is hopeful I will have the opportunity to integrate a blogging experience into the classroom also. I will learn more once I complete the online faculty course and competency reviews in mid-December. This experience has become a spring board to another opportunity in higher education.
I learned a tremendous amount from my peers. In fact, there were times that I was so intrigued by a subject brought to light by a colleague that I researched his/her subject extensively being able to provide links to additional information and other considerations in some cases or simply becoming more well versed in the subject myself . I suspect this was the intent of the experience, to become so engaged as students that there are no limits to the number of hours one could spend on learning. The wealth of knowledge, experience, and commitment to higher education demonstrated by my peers was encouraging also. In addition, the participation of many other community college colleagues proved to be valuable and the opportunity to be in the classroom again was inspiring to someone like me who has been in the “business” for over twenty six years now.
The experience of authoring a blog was a very valuable. I realize now that I have many opportunities to publish articles in professional organizations associated with my current position and career. I plan to use this experience to cease those opportunities rather than being passive. I understand there is some risk in doing so especially because I gravitate towards controversial subjects. Nonetheless, my personal sense of responsibility has been elevated as a higher education professional as a result of my experience this semester.
It also proved valuable to have knowledge of current events by reading the Chronicle and other publications as required . The higher education subjects were relevant and subsequently weaved into discussion in my current position. The result of conversation was elevated engagement and support for one another as versed professionals, in or being affected, by a current event in higher education. I plan to continue to integrate time into my day to review the Chronicle and other pertinent publications.
In order to be honest with myself about the experience; however, I will have to admit that after time the novelty of blogging wore off and I became less interested. Therefore, it was helpful to have the other exercises such as writing a memorandum to supervisor and a letter to the editor engaging, practical, and timely. In fact, I would support integrating more practical application into the curriculum in order to share our valuable experiences with others in the profession if feasible.
Understanding that I value practical and applicable experience in the classroom, I would say that my two most personally appeasing blogs were personal in nature. I liked explaining how my personal background and professional compliance related duties as a higher education professional created internal conflict for me. However, I was also disappointed by the fact that I could not even attempt to publish my article because it was censored by my supervisor as it related to the Federal Hatch Act and the Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) because of the perceived limitations placed on our ability to advocate for the profession, students, and education in our society as a whole. Likewise, the threatening reaction from leadership that alarmed my peers when shared in the classroom, the censorship, and limitations of being a private citizen were disconcerting enough to me that I will continue to pursue the ability to speak freely within the real, not perceived, boundaries of the legislation. Therefore, I would consider Censorship or Commonsensical my most value contribution to blogging and am thankful I was advised to seek permission to publish rather than experiencing a negative repercussion.
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