What belongs on our blogs?: Audience and confidentiality

I know we've talked about this in class, but I want to reiterate some of the major points we discussed. Remember that our use of the blogs is always open to discussion!

• Remember that your blogs are currently set up so that anyone can read them. This includes prospective employers, family members, and "the public". Never disclose information on your blog that you don't want to be public. This might include controversial positions which might be misread outside the context of the course.
  
• Consider your audience. One audience for the blogs will be your classmates with whom you've built relationships and who know the context of the course. Another audience might be potential employers who might be interested in your ideas, your writing skills, and whether you "sound like a teacher". (I can imagine a principal asking herself, "Could I imagine this person creating a classroom blog that students and parents would read?")
  
• The same rules of confidentiality that we discussed regarding classroom interactions apply to our blogs. Don't mention other classmates by name or with identifying information. Respond to ideas, not to people.
  
• If in doubt, choose the more confidential option. We have lots of "spaces" in which to exchange ideas in our class: our face to face meetings, our blogs, the questioning the text papers, and the Angel website. For example,
  if you want to pose a question that feels more personal or "risky", you might decide not to start that conversation on your blog, but rather start a discussion strand on Angel.
  

As professionals, one of your tasks is to develop "professional discretion". Although I read all posts and will contact you if I have a concern, it is ultimately up to you to make choices that demonstrate good judgment and respect for your classmates.

In the future you'll be making the same types of choices with your students, parents, and professional communities!