Thinking Allowed.

Edublogs have made some necessary changes.  By necessary, I mean that I assume that, like the rest of us, the great people at Edublogs have to earn an income for all their hard work and creative design.  Of course, it is their perogative to do this, they know their needs, they have nothing but positive intent, I’m sure.

Like Edublogs, as an educator, I too have my own uses and needs related to blogging.  Edublogs provided for years now, the best product that I could access.  I passed the word, encouraged new edubloggers and was able to get a message out.

And I get that that’s worth supporting.

But many of those services are behind a wall of payment now.  I cannot justify their use with yet-to-be-convinced teachers and students and expect them to pay.  Being able to create blogs from an admin account spoiled me.  And maybe that was edublogs greatest flaw…offering me so much for so little.  Now I expect it, want it, demand it.

I use it to spread a message of 21st century learning and now, how can I keep pushing teachers thinking if I have to make them pay first.

Of course, it could be that I’m cheap.

Regardless, it’s time we part ways.

If I am going to be putting out money, then it’s probably best if I begin to spend it on a domain and the ability to host to suit my needs and those of my clientele.

Thank you, edublogs for all that you have provided.  It’s is an unfortunate parting of ways.  But we both have different needs now.

I feel like I’m breaking up with someone….it’s not you, it’s me.

It was probably time, anyway.

image by zanzibar, flickr creative commons

(originally posted on harterlearning on Jan 29, 2007)

I have just returned from Sunny Sacramento, CA where I was being trained on our school’s new Student Information Management System. Looks like it’ll be a good product, but there is definitely a right way to implement and get everyone on board both training and thinking-wise. More importantly, there are plenty of wrong ways. We need to do this right…I can tell right now that this is going to be a big time-occupier.

While on the trip, my computer COMPLETELY crashed on me. Wouldn’t even start up. So I am behind on posting, behind on keeping up with my netvibes feeds, just behind in general. It did allow me to read a book, which with little children is typically impossible. I am also part way through the audio book of The Long Tail. Fascinating concept, which I have mentioned earlier in this blog. Had a good discussion with Justin about how even retail real-world sellers are really thriving on the niche market and allowing complete customization of products for customers. Starbucks was our example with the “skinny, extra shot, extra hot, soy latte” is a perfect example of how you can be completely niche even when buying in a mainstream environment. It’s all about what you want and no longer about what most people want. I think I am going to like living in a world like that.

On a side note, the original purpose of this post was to announce – in a very un-grandiose way – that I’ve changed the name and URL of this blog. If you are here, you know this. The old name affiliated the blog with the school, which ultimately it was not. They are my thoughts on learning and my thoughts on the musings of others, so I now I’ve made sure that’s clear in the blog title and address.

I am Harter and I am learning. And I have my ideas on learning which give this another meaning. Finally, this new learning, while ultimately beneficial for the students who need us if we can help them, will be difficult for some teachers to move to. Therein lies the other “play” on the name…Harter Learning…because some things worth doing are hard.

[author's note: if you are reading this here, then you know I've changed the name again...this one is sticking, I hope.]