I recently returned to twitter after not using it for a few years. On returning I was amazed by the changes I found and was surprised by the mass of info I was shown by the people I am following. I read a lot in the first weeks and was shocked at the amount of new material I was reading. Quickly, however, persistent blog reading started to raise questions.

I wonder about the TED-ification of ideas (or the essaying of ideas) and about how to take much of the reflection I was reading. What was missing, in general, was scholarly support for the ideas. I was left wondering if there was evidence, if there was proof of certain ideas, and if the ideas were valid beyond personal ideas, thoughts and reflections. 

I certainly understand the need for reflection and the idea of using various tools to aid in reflecting. I am certain that the wave of blogs is a great way to construct self reflection and also to illicit collegial reflection. (Here I am think of Brookfield’s ‘four lenses’ see Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher (1995).)

What I would like to see is more scholarly and evidence based reflection. What are these blogs being based on – students perhaps and if so how many or from scholarly reading/research? I think a hell of a lot of it is coming from TED-ified thinking. It is true because I think it, I can write it well enough so others also think it and I know they do because they follow me or comment in my blog.

What to do about this: 

• be aware that these are personal and often self-reflections
• if we take on the ideas make sure to get feedback and reflect after using the ideas (4 lenses again)
• be critically engaged – question these ideas