Image Creation in Blogs : re(Muse)ings

Mar

12

Image Creation in Blogs

Filed Under Teaching, Blog Thoughts 

Last week, Karen Haines quoted my post about blogging on her blog the PhD Learning Curve. I’ve spent the last week going back to her post and the blogs connected through her post and thinking about her questions. I am particularly excited by one post titled More on Teacher Identity:

“that teachers choose to represent themselves. I was captured by the potential of Simon’s ‘image-text’ 1995 – and wonder to what degree Ts can control their image-text in an online environment. If self-revelation is a good thing (Richards 2006) then online environments offer Ss a more varied image-text of the T, which could be a good or bad thing. For eg. Ss can read Karen’s Blog (very much for Ss) and get to know me. My choices of what I include here are often quite deliberate in terms of how I want students to see me.” Actually, I feel the entire post seems to be reflecting me.

The following are a few of my questions and concerns about my own teacher image and its meaning to the larger concern of student learning.

What is teacher identity?

*What is identity? 102202517_267b5d01c7_m-1.JPG

*What other identities do we have in our lives?

*In what ways do those identities conflict with each other?

*Why is study of identity important?

*Why is study of teacher identity apparently more important than other identities?

* They probably study identity in business and with leaders, is it as intensive as with teacher?

*Is it okay to shift identity or image-text as PhD guy says? Or does it do something damaging to the psyche or even to the solidness of who we are?

*I have a friend who believes that black and white is the best morality. I have always been a gray line person. Does shifting identity increase this?

* If identity shift is necessary, then what is the most efficient method? Cohesive?

* I become interested in different ideas, music, sports based on my students to a certain extent. Does this mis-represent me? Does this honor my students?

* What new research is out there about teacher identity? What does it mean for me?

* How often do people set up a deliberate identity?

* How does my identity help students?

* What can I do to change that identity?

* How do students perceive me?

* Do stories hurt?

* Modeling for students is often declared a good thing. Does it matter whether it is teacher model or student model?

* How can I make sure my blog has my own voice and interests if I am worrying about the public face of students, other teachers and world?

* Can one achieve reactions from others when the blog is not just about blogging or are blogging posts the only way to capture other bloggers?

* In order to keep interest in a blog, one must often update the blog. Does one need to often update an identity? What happens if it just happens?

* Many, many posts happen within a blog. Many, many days of teaching happen. How long does reality of image begin to happen? (I know that was a bit of an oxymoron.)

* Often writers and beginning writers copy a tone from others. Is this really that person’s on-line identity?

* How much do comments from others create the image as well? If we allow too many “Way to Go!” comments, can that shift the intellectualness or vividness of the image?

* If a person does not engage in others’ image making (comments) then is that person selfish?

* The blog roll itself is part of the blog image and the public image, how many blogs are too many? What kinds of connections beyond the obvious should not be made?

* How do self-perceptions help create how others see us?

— Technology – I feel pretty perpetually behind, yet when one considers my many recently acquired and actually used skills, I am far in the front of others I know.

* How much is it the yes or the no that defines how others perceive us? What becomes a yes or a no within a blog?

* Teachers teach voice in writing. Can identity be taught? (Yes, the answer seems to simple so why ask the question.)

* Should identity be taught?

Comments

2 Responses to “Image Creation in Blogs”

  1. Karen Haines on March 12th, 2008 5:56 pm

    I wish that we could sit and have a coffee together and talk about your questions. I’m sure I can pretend to think better aloud.

    Because of space I chose your question ‘Is it okay to shift identity or image-text as PhD guy says? Or does it do something damaging to the psyche or even to the solidness of who we are?’. I don’t think it is damaging. If we have multiple identities, perhaps the danger is that having removed the onion skins there is nothing at the centre - perhaps that’s what you mean by solidness. But more and more I realise that I shift/adapt/adopt identity depending on situation and context - usually very much in relation to people around. So who am I? Maybe instead of being gray, I’m shades of colours? Does this make any difference to my students? If it is in relation to them as you suggest very nicely, then that’s the idea of being socially situated, which is in the literature!

    ‘Do stories hurt?’ Now there’s another question that we could talk about another time/another virtual coffee…

    PS. I like the images you use on your blog. They elaborate nicely.

  2. Jennie Chang on March 19th, 2008 8:30 am

    wow Ms. Porter.. that’s a hard question.. I am actually in a search for an answer as well. I wish to know my identity and who I am to others and I am sure that you will find your answer like how I believe I will find my own true answers… ^^

    (please comment me.. ^^ on my latest post)

Leave a Reply