Why Am I Blogging?

Why do I blog?

The simplest answer is that blogging keeps me on task. There’s nothing quite like dated entries to leave a trail of your activity (or idleness).

For me a blog is an incredible organizational tool. In the process of creating a class blog I discovered just how easy it was to have all of my materials organized and together in one location. I could work on the course from any location with Internet connection. I found myself prepared way ahead of my usual schedule for my classes.

Class blogs provide great teacher portfolio fodder. As I continue to chronicle various courses via blogging, I am developing a robust teaching portfolio.

Class blogs allow collegiality.  A few like-minded colleagues teaching the same course this semester have been able to visit my blog to see what my class is up to without taking any of my time and without having to respond directly to my material or approach.  They can comfortably lurk taking what they want and leaving the rest behind.

Are students a consideration in this endeavor? You bet!

My first blog was created for a speaking class at a graduate school in Saudi Arabia.  Attendance was spotty and I saw the blog as a way to lure absent students back into the classroom. In Qatar where I currently reside I intentionally used a blog to provide an attractive and new format for a summer writing course. Without exception, all students are tethered to their smartphones. They have responded enthusiastically to the convenience of accessing course materials via a blog.  Some of them have become active in the comments box which gives them a rare real world writing opportunity.

I’ll end where I started with the title of this post “Why am I blogging?”

This is my first non-class blog. To be honest, I am apprehensive about airing my possibly mundane thoughts. On the other hand there is the tempting thrill of potential publicity for myself. People who blog and who read blogs often are interested in other Web 2.0 applications. So without much further ado I will send my first missive to the press. I hope that the content of my next post will be guided by comments from readers.