Blog Entry #3: "Is There Anybody Out There?"

The more I learn the more I realize "I don't know anything."  So far in my LIS studies I have been completely overwhelmed by the information coming at me.  This is not to say that I am not learning anything, I am.  In fact, I think I have learned more in the past month then I have in the past ten years.  So why do I feel so behind?  I think it's because I am being asked to do things that I never have done before.  Take this blog for example... I never before have written a blog.  It's different.  It takes skills and a thinking process that I have never developed as a youth.  Reading Richardson has slowly opened my eyes to what a blog is and how it can be used.  But, that doesn't mean I can write a good blog.  You can look at a bike and someone can tell you how you are suppose to ride that bike but that doesn't mean that you can just get on a bike and ride.  It takes practice and guidance to learn how to ride that bike.  So I look at this blog like my "blog with training wheels".  I'm practicing.  And boy do I need practice.  The thing that gets me is the one sidedness of this blog.  Richardson refers to blog writing as "connective writing".  I don't see any connective aspect to this blog.  I write to one person, who I am assuming is reading this, that may or may not comment back.  There is no way to know who will read this outside of the one who assigned this to me.  (You know who you are)  Even if someone does stumble upon this blog and read it, will it even matter to them?  Will anyone find this useful?  If not, what's the point?  I can see using a blog in the classroom being a futile exercise if not managed correctly.  Blog specific reading and writing skills need to be taught before we let students loose on the web.  You wouldn't just throw a kid in a pool and just expect them to swim. (Some people might, but they are crazy!)  As teacher librarians we need to be the lifeguard to make sure our students don't drown.  But what happens when the lifeguard is still wearing floaties?