3 reasons I’m against the Edublog Awards

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Last year on my previous blog, teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk, I wrote a very short ‘microblog’ post entitled Please don’t vote for this blog! about the Edublog Awards. It, erm, caused some debate – some of which could be put in the category heated.

It’s time for the Edublogs Awards again, and I still haven’t changed my stance. I’m totally against them, for reasons I shall explain. I wasn’t going to say anything as people who I like and respect such as Tom Barrett and José Picardo are stoked to be nominated, but I really must give my $0.02…

1. They foster competition instead of collaboration and co-operation

Just as when you’re teaching a course that has an exam at the end of it you teach differently to those purely assessed by coursework, so the Edublog Awards can influence blogging. Although I’ve blogged before about making sure you don’t get ‘unfollowed on Twitter’ and offered tips on how to retain RSS subscribers, this is slightly different. The point of those posts was to make sure that people offering a different view of education continue to get their voices heard. The Edublog Awards are a popularity contest that pit blog author against blog author instead of striving to a common goal :-(

2. They’re promoted by people who have vested interests

I’ve met and think I get on with Josie Fraser reasonably well (education and social media consultant). I’ve heard that James Farmer (Edublogs.org owner) is a great guy. However, both of them do this kind of thing for a living. I’m certainly not saying that they set up and continue to run the awards purely for financial and self-centred reasons. But it’s a consideration.

When I’ve made points like this before, people have said that bloggers deserve a thank-you, a well done and a slap on the back. Yes. They do. That’s what comments, tip jars (like Dave Warlick’s Starbucks one) and blogging about what you’ve learned via that person are for. Awards are divisive.

“I smell sour grapes,” say others. Not so. In fact, one of my blogs (the now non-existent edte.ch) was nominated in the category ‘best resource-sharing blog’, even though it did nothing of the sort! What’s worse, people actually voted for it. I was shocked.

Still others may say that it’s a good way to find out about new blogs or ones that have escaped their attention. So are Technorati, Google Blog Search, the ‘recommendation’ feature in Google Reader, and – shock horror! – people actually just blogging about other people and their blogs that they find useful or interesting. There’s no need for an award, or series of awards, just so that people can discover new or different content. The Internet is already good at connecting people and for searches…

3. It’s very easy to rig them

Just as ‘Teacher of the Year’ awards are won by good teachers but not necessarily the best in their field, so the Edublog Awards reflect the nature the process. What happens when a teacher is nominated as ‘Teacher of the Year’? Everyone even remotely related to their school or family is urged to vote for them.

I know as a matter of fact of teachers nominated in previous years who have encouraged every student they teach to go home and vote for their blog (as the school has a single IP address). I’ve seen blog posts pratically begging readers to vote for a blog.

In the end it comes down to who wants it the most. And I don’t want it at all. Comments and thank-you’s on this blog and Twitter are reward enough. It’s a shame that’s not the case for others in the edublogosphere. :-p

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Posted: December 3rd, 2008
Categories: Education
Tags: , , ,
  • Guest
    Heck Doug, the one time I get nominated for something!
    I tell you what, you can vote for me on your Macbook and for Tom on your netbook ;)
  • Sorry, José, but I think that - if you're honest - you don't actually *need* this nomination/award. Surely positive comments and tweets mean more to you?
  • Goodonskis
    Spot on post Doug,

    Blogging is a great platform for folk to share their experiences, learning, wrinkles, tips and thoughts and hopefully promote others to do so. I only wish more folk would blog, what a great pool or reservoir of narratives it would be for everyone to tap into and learn from. I just think the awards promote a little bit of blogsnobbery and could possibly discourage folk from starting a blog.
  • Thanks Louise - you've coined a new word there, I think: 'blogsnobbery'! :-)
  • Hi Doug
    Public recognition is a form of reward that is indeed more superficial that consistent private acknowledgement. I suppose, it is our ego getting in the way... Thanks for the reality check!
    Isabelle
  • Or even constant micro-feedback via Twitter, etc.!
  • At one point I used to ask everyone I know to vote -- to me, it is like "what is the point" -- however, I do believe that anything that brings positive attention to the edublogosphere is a good thing and so I don't want to do harm.

    I do think that they are divisive - but just about anything worth doing ends up w/ these divisive awards. IT doesn't take anything away from the fact that the edublogosphere is a great place.

    I think it is about focus - when these things get me off focus then it is harmful to my classroom and to me as a person. Arrogance destroys the effectiveness of a blogger - it comes through in the posts and we have to all remember that we are still educators - not "ROCK STARS" ( a Term I HATE HATE HATE btw).

    We have to focus on the students - few of whom receive awards and speak out for incredible teachers - few of whom receive awards.

    I always hesitate, however, to do harm and so have tiptoed carefully around this one.

    While I mention the nomination - there is too much to do -- my students are organizing protests in lively right now b/c that is an incredible tool that is about to go away! Got things to do.

    You're always one of my longtime favorite innovators - thank you.
  • Vicki,

    I agree with your point about wanting to 'bring positive attention to the edublogosphere', but I would question whether awards actually do so. There's awards for *everything* these days, aren't there?

    It was actually your post that prompted me into writing this post. I could see that you were against the idea, but were honoured to have been nominated. As you say, you may have offended people by coming out against them. I'm not so concerned with my online reputation! ;-)
  • It isn't a matter of offending people. But, I do think that the edublog awards have brought attention to some bloggers who needed to be noticed. I don't think they are doing harm. Sometimes I think teachers are so desperate for a pat on the back that it really doesn't bring out the best when this sort of thing happens.

    Very often the "winners" HAVE had a campaign to win which does make you think - well, what is it worth - so to me, it is a waste of time to "try" to win. Too many other things to do. ;-)

    I don't think that there are awards for everything -- should be more. I guess the biggest problem I have is the problem with edublogs putting ads on the blogs of their users without permission. I have a real problem with that. So, I think that their non-helpful actions of over the top adsensing their blogs has put a bad taste in my mouth. I do think that Josie and James have done great work and wouldn't want to disparage it. I disagree with that decision so perhaps it makes me not so gung ho on the whole awards thing.

    As for online reputation -- I just take seriously to be careful about doing harm - I've made some mistakes in the past and have hurt people and companies (although not in a huge way- I mean, who am I really? - it was still harm) and have made a commitment to myself to be very wary before posting negatively.
  • I agree with you Doug... To me it seems rather desperate or arrogant to campaign for a blog award. To me edublogging should be about collaboration, just as good teaching requires collaboration.
  • Exactly. My RSS reader reflects what you have stated: I'm interested in those educators who share what they do because they love what they do. I'm not interested in those who are doing it with one eye on a prize!
  • Well, I'm happy to have your votes because I'm dead keen to get an award! cheers Sarah
  • Meh.
  • I've been thinking quite a bit about this ... I've not been nominated, nor am likely to be. However, I think that I'd be torn between the being really rather pleased, but also way too embarrassed to actually *ask* anyone to vote for me. Besides, I'd rather they based their vote on the *blog*, not the owner. So, much as they might like me, I'd hope they'd vote for the blog they liked the best.

    Luckily I've not had to put anyone in that situation!

    I guess it's also related to *why* we blog. For me, it was first & foremost because I was intending to get students to blog - the whole concept of writing publicly was scary to me - so I thought I'd better start. But, the audience was never intended to be more than my students (and, as they weren't *required* to read it...) So, anyone who's not a student of mine is a plus :)

    I've decided, therefore, this time to have a look at the list of blogs - and will only vote (should I find one) - for one by someone I have never read before (so, you're in with a chance, Sarah!) - and use it as a way of finding new blogs, rather than reinforcing my own.
  • I am not in favour of the Edublog Awards either (and like you, it's not a matter of sour grapes as I have also been nominated in the past). However, I really don't understand your point about vested interests: EVERYONE has a vested interest! It's a matter of whether their vested interest is transparent or whether it actually matters. I don't know if Josie or J Farmer makes any money from it, but how is that relevant? You make money from teaching, don't you? In fact, if they ARE making money from it, I say good luck to them: they're pioneering the way for the rest of us.
  • Indeed, but I haven't (yet!) got a teaching job on the strength of my
    blogging. Nor are there any ads on dougbelshaw.com :-)
  • Josie Fraser
    Fr the record, none of the Edublog Awards team have ever directly made money from putting the awards together, we've all donated our time and energy in the hope of doing something good for the community. We have all benefited immensely however, in terms of having the opportunity to spend time with each other and learn from the global community, and from the ability to demonstrate we are engaged in our chosen professions. It isn't a closed club - anyone who wants to get involved is more than welcome to contribute and help shape the event. I'll probably have to step down after this year so more than delighted to hear from people who can do a better job.

    I really do think the awards do an important job of raising awareness of whats going on and sharing resources internationally. They should be a celebration of all our hard work and an opportunity to recognise the vitality of world going on in blogging and social media. I'd be an idiot if I thought everyone would see them in the same light as me however.

    Have a great Xmas Doug & hope to see you again in the New Year.
  • Hi Josie and thanks for your comment. It's not really a personal dig, just a reminder to people that money actually does (or at least used to!) make the world go round and nothing comes for free. See adverts on edublogs.org as an example of this... :-)
  • Josie Fraser
    np - it's all good fr the awards. I'm gonna promote your boycott as an additional platform lol.
  • Josie Fraser
    Fr the record, none of the Edublog Awards team have ever directly made money from putting the awards together, we've all donated our time and energy in the hope of doing something good for the community. We have all benefited immensely however, in terms of having the opportunity to spend time with each other and learn from the global community, and from the ability to demonstrate we are engaged in our chosen professions. It isn't a closed club - anyone who wants to get involved is more than welcome to contribute and help shape the event. I'll probably have to step down after this year so more than delighted to hear from people who can do a better job.

    I really do think the awards do an important job of raising awareness of whats going on and sharing resources internationally. They should be a celebration of all our hard work and an opportunity to recognise the vitality of world going on in blogging and social media. I'd be an idiot if I thought everyone would see them in the same light as me however.

    Have a great Xmas Doug & hope to see you again in the New Year.
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