Teaching: How to do a Professional Blog, Part 1

I intend to write an article in which I share what I've learned about constructing a professional blog during this experience. I may try to develop this paper through a series of blog entries, since that's the mode of writing in which I seem now to be most comfortable. Through this article, I want to encourage faculty and students who are taking part in development activities, whether international or not, to use a blog as a way to communicate to multiple audiences, to reflect upon the experiences as they are living the experiences, and to create lasting multimedia documentation.

I've been keeping a (paper!) list of ideas and tips that will go into this article. One of the tips, that takes some explanation, is that a blog author should find and cultivate an 'emily'. An 'emily' is an enthusiastic and interested observer of the blog who knows you and understands your background and current work. An 'emily' looks at the blog frequently, maybe even becoming an official and public follower. As a part of her viewing, she comments and responds when 'trouble-shooting' is necessary, such as when it didn't seem that the comments function was working earlier in the month. An 'emily' also contributes to the content of the blog, by developing a heightened awareness of topics that would be of interest, and passing the relevant resources along to the blog author.

Here's a recent example of a New York Times link about Budapest and the current financial crisis that my 'emily' sent along to me. Thanks, Emily, for being my 'emily'!