aardent lore

For a year now I’ve spent my early morning hours as a lerker. My iMac rises at 4 a.m., and I log on to Bloglines to check my feeds. They are waiting there for me. The big boys of edublogs: Stephen Downes, Scott McLeod, Karl Fisch, Will Richardson, Doug Noon, David Warlick, Ewan McIntosh, Clay Burell, and TMAO. I read. I watch. I listen. I don’t participate. I don’t contribute. Up until now, I’ve been content to lerk.

For a year now these giants of the genre have filled my head with wonders great and terrible. I found Richardson, first. Bought his book. Read it twice. Set up a Bloglines account and started subscribing. Burell and TMAO, though my last subscriptions, are my favorite reads. They are were I am. In the classroom. Or, at least they were until here and here. Downs is the hardest to digest. He’s overwhelming and often way over my head. But he leads me to some of the best web tools, so I keep reading.

For a year now these rulers of the realm have given me the feeling that I am inadequate. Unprepared. Incapable of contributing anything meaningful to their discussions. I’m used to leading discussions. I cut my teeth on bulletin boards and forums before blogs were born. So, I slipped into the role of lerker. Lerk and learn.

Now, it’s time to try out what I’ve learned. No more lerking ’round. Time to find my voice.

I’ve tried this before. Twice. Third time, so it is said, is a charm.

What kept me from making the most of my blog?

Lack of direction.

Lack of time.

I think, now that I’ve had a chance to read blogs written by “professionals”, I’ve got it now. My direction, at least. Time is another matter. There is just never enough of it. It’s summer, so I’m in commitment mode. Always good intentions. Then classes begin. I forget. Lose sight of my original direction. Get tired.

Maybe this time will be different. Maybe.