Why I Blog (AKA: Assignment for ETPT Class)

Well all, since I used that first post for my frivolous OSU commentary... now I guess I need to get to work.

I was asked what I think of Blogs, and whether I would use them in the Business or Education world. After much thought...I think I would. As you can read below:


In the workplace, it would be easy to easy a Blog (and in a related subject…a Wiki) for keeping up with workplace communication. In my line of work, in IT we are often separated by meetings, system problems, tasks that take us from campus to campus…so a blog would be a nice way of keeping not only the staff but also the community up to date on the comings and goings of our daily activities and projects. It could be an online update on our daily and project work that is available even when we are not.

I have seen where Presidents of corporations, and even the President of the University of Toledo, have blogged in the past. However, I think for it to be effective you need to fully embrace the technology and get people to look to that blog as the primary source of their information. If you continue to send out memos and other forms of communication in traditional styles…people will not want to look to the blog, nor will they embrace the interactive features that make the blog such a great tool for business communication.

Communication is the key element that I see in embracing blog technology in our classrooms. While the technological element of securing student information and safety for minors (that we might not have to worry about with dedicated corporate networks) would be a challenge…I think that the idea of each individual student having a blog in which to communicate with the teacher and other class members would be a great idea, and would spur both communication and results.

Imagine a child at home who forgot a homework assignment, or had questions regarding a project. They could simply look at friends blogs, or even better post a question regarding the project on the assignment section of the teachers blog…imagine getting a response to a question from Mr. Smith, the 3^rd grade teacher, at 7 PM. No more lost time due to forgotten papers and children who feel better about their place in the class because the lines of open communication are always there.

Going further with the idea of communication, I think that a blog would be a perfect accompanying piece in the classroom to spur interest in writing and creative thinking. The art of writing is more fulfilling to most people when it is appreciated, and what better way to appreciate your writing and your creativity that to put it in a place where many, many people can read it when they want to, or all at the same time? I think that the use of a blog would spur the sharing of ideas and be a boost to the art of creative thinking and spur an interest in the critical ideas that our traditional system seems to be missing.

Just one final idea…I like the idea of blogging in both an educational and business environment because it stresses the idea that opinion and thought are important. Too often we are told what to do, and what to think…what to buy and what we should look like. We are told as educators not to give opinion, but instead to stick to the material and the facts- both of which are often times simply another’s opinion. I believe that the encouragement of informed opinion is so critical for the building of citizenry and the shaping of character, as well as an appreciation of beauty and wonder…it is what keeps us young, but sharpens our minds as well.

Thanks for reading...