this blog post Is So Meta Even This Acronym

Well, it's time to blog about blogging. Wilber, chapter 3 will be the focus of tonight's blog.

I'll be honest, before this class, I was never a big fan of blogging.  Or, maybe I just didn't see the full value of it.

The first point that Wilber brings up is the use of blogs as a way to collaborate with fellow teachers and professionals in the same field as you.  I had really thought of this until I read it. I immediately realized that I already do a form of this already by browsing niche interest forums and discussing specific topics with forum members.  It's not exactly blogging, but it is the same concept.

Next, on page 49, Wilber talks about how blogs give students a chance to write for a semi-public audience.  I mean, they likely won't get a lot of traffic to their blog, but they still have to be mindful of the fact that they really are writing for a public audience.  It makes their work have more meaning, more than just to make the teacher happy.  

This leads to another major point that Wilber makes.  When a student finds more meaning in their work, they're more likely to keep to doing it.  On page 51, Wilber talks about how blogging encourages regular writing practice.  The more you write, the better you get (or at least, the more comfortable you get).  That's one of our main jobs as teachers--get kids comfortable with writing and communicating.  No matter what job they end up in, they will have to use the vital skills of communication.  The more prepared they are for that reality, the better.  Blogging could be a useful way to get them comfortable with communicating.