The Ripples Spread - August 30, 2009

It's been a little over a week since I threw my idea into the universe by launching my blog.

Still, I've only personally told six people about the blog, as well as my 9th grade ESOL English class of 15 students. The reason is I want to see how an idea can spread much like ripples spread across a lake after a rock has plunged into the water.

As of 11:15 a.m. EST, the ripples have spread to more than 20 states and a handful of countries. During that time, the blog has had 441 hits.

In his book, The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, Thomas Friedman talks about how the internet has contributed to the world becoming a level playing field because now someone working on a computer in India, Iceland or Indonesia can collaborate with or economically compete against someone living in Illinois. The internet has also leveled the playing field for the spread of ideas.

I've been amazed at how quickly word as traveled about the blog outside of my original group of six adults and 15 students. On the day that the blog was launched, the head of my department spread some ripples by e-mailing my blog to the staff at our school. Later that day, one of my friends outside of work set up an open Facebook group called "Mark Dickinson's Experimental Adventure," which spread the ripples further. As of September 1st, that group had 182 members, most of whom I've never met, but ripples often spread in ways we can never imagine or predict.

The next day, a newspaper reporter in Dalton, Georgia, learned about the blog through a Google alert and e-mailed me to see if she could write a story. That story ran on August 29th, and because the reporter was using a video camera, part of our interview got posted on YouTube.

I didn't ask anyone to do any of these things. The word spread through the actions and, in some cases, the generosity of others and through the magic of the internet. As I keep telling my students, anything is possible, especially in our technological age in a world that is becoming increasingly flat.

Speaking of my students, they seem to be interested in my blog, but most of them still don't think I'll be traveling anywhere this summer. As one of my students said last week with a grin spread across her face, "Mister. It isn't going to work."

Maybe she's right because, so far, I haven't received any donations, but I remain optimistic because I know the world is a good place. To illustrate my point, last week, one of my students lost his ID in the school building. At the beginning of class, another student walked in and handed it to him, saying he'd found it in the hallway. Things like that happen in a benevolent universe. I got a few "oohs" and "awhs" out of my kids with that one.

Regardless of what happens down the road, already the blog has triggered some great classroom discussions ranging from the importance of learning about other cultures to the importance of setting goals to the importance of following one's dreams.

On a personal note, I appreciate all of the positive feedback and encouragement I've received since the blog went on-line. I hope you will continue to follow the blog and find out if a person can, indeed, travel around the world relying on the generosity of strangers.