I agree, I have the same difficulty. It might be easier if they were grouped by category - all of the Chapter Three material went to a Chapter Three group or folder, but even so I find it difficult to manage and feel that I am missing important perspectives and insights into the readings and my classmates. I also feel that it hampers my ability to contribute. It's sort of a continual feeling that I am not prepared for class, that I'm always behind.

(I believe this counts as sincerity rather than authenticity, perhaps knowledge but definitely not wisdom!)

Sarah Waldemar

I agree that having a folder name with each of the readings separate may be helpful. I would like to read specifically for a better understanding on a particular reading, one that might offer an alternative view point and going directly to a folder with posts and comments on that reading would be efficient.

This was my first time offering a longer post on our assigned reading and wasn't aware how difficult it would be and therefor not planning enough time, I posted it past the appropriate time for commentary. Yet having to make my own individual perspective, insights and reactions was extremely valuable process for me. Knowing that I wanted to achieve a simplified message for the reader, forced me to really review the material and disseminate key concepts with clarity and ease of reading. This process of writing longer reflections is important and I now know I need to leave more time to make an interesting read possible. I will try to post my next three before the Sunday deadline to make up for this late one. My suggestion, is that we each make a commitment of serious time, to give our best shot at making the longer posts enjoyable and worth reading. I hope I accomplished that and welcome any criticism or suggestions on how to make a better blog post. This requirement is stretching us on many levels. Whohoo!
Diana Turner

I appreciate this blog conversation about blogging opening. First of all, I'm sorry for my own contributions of lengthy or late postings. These early readings were abstract and difficult for me to internalize and bridge into practical application. I try to give these authors their due, and not bias against what seems inherently impractical, but it's been tough. At a technical level, I've also struggled to find a writing style for these reflections, but keep leaning toward annotation as a more accurate, less personal style.

I'll admit that I don't relish the public nature of blog postings. I don't like the cumbersome nature of Web CT, but it feels a lot more like a learning community forum to me. We are all engaged in a conversation about personal leadership and other leadership capabilities that can get right down into the deep dimension-level in a hurry. Academic question for Barbara -- how do public blogs affect the different levels of discussion in the forum, arena, and courts model?

I agree with the earlier writers. Had I to do those postings over again, I'd do them very differently: short; impersonal; and early in the week with far less concern about demonstrating practical application that can only get me in very hot water with somebody, somewhere, sometime now or far into the future. Sobering to consider.

I'd say to Wendy's posting: forget about being impersonal -- speak from the heart! Sometimes we step on toes we don't mean to or say something that's not quite right, but if we speak from the heart, maybe there's something underneath it all that makes enough sense to listen to and learn from. I've learned much from you.

Yes, we need to be careful of how we frame our speech -- but we all need to take time to listen to the real message in each post. If some have not taken time to post from the heart, then I say "do it!" We all learn from each other. It's the faint of heart who don't make a real contribution. Be respectful -- then next speak from the heart.

I'm personally not a fan of academic writing. I like writing intelligently, but I enjoy framing my thoughts in ways that make sense to readers. My writing isn't usually geared toward the professor -- it's geared toward anyone who might read it, and they might not always "get" what I'm suggesting or responding to. I've never yet been accused of being unclear due to verbose or academic prose. (However, I've been accused of being clear with unclear language, if you can absorb that one.)

I've said in a previous post (under "On Blogging") that I was bothered by the direction all these posts were taking early on. I felt I would soon be so lost that I wouldn't know what to read or how far back to go. I believe I was right. Blogs can be great, but they need to be well organized. This was worth the effort, and I also think it can be improved on. It is much better than WebCT (although I miss the strings of thought - I liked the Explorer-type hierarchy).

I've experienced blogs in other Graduate courses and have found them very helpful. However, I think (with so many readings and so many different topics) this has become such a behemoth that it is imperative to categorize postings in a deeper sense (more levels).

The most disturbing thing about this blog is not being able to edit our comments. Sometimes, we just need to make our thoughts more clear, or simply to correct a typo or wrong word usage, and it's too late. The ability to take out a sentence or change a word or phrase can empower our thoughts more so. By virtue of not being able to change our comments actually minimizes and demeans our voice. I'm much more guarded as a result of this loss.

Thank you for input. I'm interested to know more about why you feel the need to change your comments?