Comments on: Confidentiality and blogging as reflective practice?

By: Hilary Mason

Hilary Mason — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:02:42 +0000

I generally try to cover broad issues and subjects however I also agree with Jon that both young people and colleagues know that I blog and sometimes read and follow what I write. I always keep both colleagues and young people identities anonymous unless it is something that they are aware I’m blogging about (ie specific projects also using social media).

I think as mentioned, that a lot is dependent on what you’re blogging for.

By: Jon Jolly

Jon Jolly — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:10:47 +0000

Reflection was the main reason I started blogging some years ago. By writing up my thoughts for others to read, it enabled me to better understand my own actions.
I do post stories from my practice and I know that some young people read the blog, but as you said in your tips above, I try to be respectful and constructive without giving away any specifics.

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:57:06 +0000

@mas @dk thanks for the great insights and pointers.

By: DK

DK — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:35:18 +0000

Forgot to add – another tip we give is to check out the huge raft of teachers who are blogging and explore their practices (as obviously they face exactly the same issues).

Ray Fleming, from Microsoft UK Schools has some good guidance here :

http://bit.ly/9sx2V

By: Mike Amos-Simpson

Mike Amos-Simpson — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:55:22 +0000

I think the main issue here relates to purpose. If the main purpose is for reflection then the option DK suggests could work, although one possible issue I could see is if people actually write more freely given the assumption of confidentiality but perhaps don’t give proper consideration to where and how that information is actually stored, so some thought needs to be given to the tools used.

If the purpose is to promote the service then it needs to be promotional content appealing to the relevant audience.

If its to try and share good practice then some thought needs to go into how best to do so without risking personal confidentialities (which really shouldn’t be that difficult)

If its more of a personal blog type thing then why not make it completely anonymous? (both authorship & content), albeit again this has the risk of letting your guard slip & accidentally revealing something so again needs caution.

Overall I think its not too difficult to focus on the aspects that can be easily shared – broad issues, methods & approaches, general frustrations and ambitions etc. etc. Of all these things its the sharing of practice & resources that I think has the potential for most value and I can’t see much argument for not sharing them.

By: DK

DK — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:10:06 +0000

Another way to go is mark the blog as private and only share access internally with the department or team. Obviously you wouldn’t be part of the wide ‘blogosphere’ although if it’s just for reflective practice then it still acts as a dynamic space and the ‘readers’ would still be able to offer comments/insights etc.