What better way to celebrate the 4th of July in the blogosphere than by extending the legacy of Benjamin Franklin, our
founding blogger, and great ambassador?
Students from Albania to Turkmenistan, from Sweden to Malta, from Iowa and Ben's own Pennsylvania are doing just that as part of the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative.
Please join them and me below the fold in action that is both diplomacy and blogging.
Quick background: I was asked to teach "Media Criticism" to these students. I knew Franklin had been called the first blogger because he published influential yet anonymous pamphlets. My experience in the blogosphere and plans to attend Yearly Kos instantly sparked the idea of teaching about the ability of the 21st century global citizen to "crash the gates" of traditional media.
Transformational idea: If I'm going to teach about the blogosphere vs. "traditional" media, I should not teach in a "traditional" manner. What better way to teach than by diving in with the students and showing them their power, empowering them by blogging with them?
My expectations have been exceeded and you will be impressed, too. In one day (of a two day long class), these students have created blogs and blog posts that demonstrate many of the best qualities we seek in blogs. One of the teaching assistants expresses better than I could how much the experience
You could jump straight to Joline's hilarious yet friendly jab at the many people who confuse Sweden and Switzerland. Or to Firuza's testament to diversity and tolerance learned in a conference in Tajikistan. That's just enough to whet the appetite.
For the full listing you can go to our scoop-powered class blog. The top front page story there has comments that include links to the blogs that were created, and the "recent diaries" there have a few more items.
Please help us, too. Use this diary thread to share blogging tips, inspiration, blogging stories or stories of global connection. Maybe you have been to one of the many nations represented and want to share experiences. Heard of the Rose Revolution and want to hear what it was like to live in the transition from censorship to freedom of the press? Tamir will discuss it. Comments at the blogs the students created or on our class blog thread are appreciated, too.
We will be here all morning like good diarists should, replying to your comments, celebrating the global community that is the blogosphere as ambassadors and bloggers honoring Benjamin Frankin, freedom of expression, and you. The students cannot post diaries here yet since they just registered yesterday, but judging by their early efforts, there may be some voices you will look forward to hearing from in the future.
Personal notes:
1) It feels great to be able to give partial repayment for all this site has done for me. Sharing blogging with the students, and sharing their new discovery of empowerment with all of you, is a downpayment. Thank you all.
2) David Leung, a teaching assistant, captures the Independence Day connection better than I could have. Thanks, David.