Blog?
As I sit down to write my first blog ever I am reminded of the song The Times They Are a Changin' by Bob Dylan. No longer are the days of snail mail and hand written paper. Students now have tablets in the classroom and are able to connect to their teachers faster than ever. The possibilities on the web are endless and I am just starting to catch up (Microsoft Word is behind, too. It still does not recognize "blog" or "facebook" as words!). Our students are using the internet, but need to learn ways to utilize it that enhance their learning. This is where I (we) as high school counselors and educators need to step in.
Today, kids are born with a cell-phone in their hand. They text, chat with friends on instant messenger and post pictures on facebook, almost on an hourly basis. They are naturals when it comes to technology. For the rest of us, this transition into the technology age takes a little more work. Last week, Will Richardson, writer of the book "Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms", came to present to my school for an in-staff meeting. His presentation excited and inspired as well as overwhelmed me. And I have been using the internet most of my life! He gave a lot of useful information and tools we can use to transform the way we connect with our students. It is a lot to learn, but I am confident in myself and my fellow educators.
So this is my blog. I am hoping to first use this as a way to communicate my thoughts and ideas with other educators within my school (Mercy High School), as well as with other counselors throughout the country via the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Hopefully, I can spark conversation, encourage others to become bloggers, and enhance my own knowledge of the field I have just joined. There is a lot to learn and I'm ready! Later on I would love to use this page as a communication tool between myself and my students. As a counselor of students in 10th through 12th grade, I am well aware of the stress the college application process can bring. My future hope is to use this blog to keep both students and parents informed and anxiety-free while going through the process.
The Name of My Blog
Why "The Lowe Down"? As I said before, "the times they are a changin'" and so am I, as well as my last name. I am getting married next year and will be a "Lowe" July 25th, 2009! This change has already caused me much angst. Even though being a "Wooten" can have its downfalls, (last in line, unless there is someone lucky enough to have a last name that starts with "Z") I have become attached. I will miss the easy-to-find mailbox in the staff room, and the "yes, Terry Wooten is my father" claim to fame, as small of a claim as that is. But I must roll with the changes; it is the only way to survive.
When I graduated from high school in 2001, my class chose The Times They Are a Changin' as our class song. At the time I thought the song did not represent my graduation year class, but at least we didn't choose The Graduation Song by Vitamin C, which I'm guessing about 99% (dramatization) chose in the early 2000s. As I get older however, I have found this song to be timeless. The times will never stop changing. It is important that I utilize the endless amounts of opportunities available to me. There are many people I'd like to connect to. I am sure that I could learn a lot from someone on the other side of the country. So like Bob Dylan once wrote "you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone. For the times they are a-changin'."
For now,
Blaise Wooten
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