One year of blogging - top five lessons learned

So, in a few days I will have been blogging for a year. Promoting my blog through social media and getting feedback from around the world. All in all a totally positive experience that lets me share my experiences and projects with my awesome students, my research and my collaborations with other great professors and students.

I have learned a few things along the way, which in fact have improved my teaching to some extent, as I have become more understanding of the need to express some things visually. Now i encourage students to incorporate photos and videos to support their written projects - to make the project more interesting for the students, but also to inspire them to think in different ways.

Here are a few things I have learned in the past year of blogging - in list form:

1. People like lists - seriously, I do not use them enough, but the times I have done those posts get more views
2. People like photos - and I swear some people don't really read my fine words, but just look at the pictures - I am fine with that now!
3. Disseminating research to the outside world is hard - but I will never give up trying new ways and new methods
4. Students research projects on blogs - I am sure some of my models have ended up in assignments from India to Germany and beyond!
5. I love when people read my work - the visitor count makes me happy and the country count makes me constantly wonder at the power of the internet.

I will continue to blog, even after I leave the UAE. This summer I will be driving the Alaska Highway with my Mom and Dad and will start a blog shortly about our planning process and then write daily posts about the trip (need to buy a new phone with a better camera). I have my smile and courage blog and adventures of Auntie as well. 

I guess blogging is in my blood now!

Most common view when writing my blog posts! (Except it is usually sunny)