Thing #4

Blogs give writers the ability to share their thoughts and opinions in a forum that, 10-20 years ago, could only be done in a discussion group or, if you were lucky, on a conference call.

I don't know that blog reading/writing is that much different from reading out of a magazine or newspaper. Aside from the absence of timing deadlines and length constraints/restrictions, the writer makes a statement, supports it with {sometimes} facts and {sometimes} opinions. The difference comes in the fact the reader can interact to a certain degree with the writer. As Arthus Erea stated in response to a blog comment to his blog "Teaching Brevity" http://students2oh.org/2007/12/16/teaching-brevity/ : "With questioning and reflecting come learning and understanding. With learning and understanding come questioning. With questioning comes discovery." I think this is the epitome of blogging.

Blogging would give students yet another way to express themselves and teachers another (faster/more efficient) way to give students feedback. It is the cyber-equivalent to writing-passing to the person on the right-comment-pass back cycle.