Blogging for an audience of one

People often ask me why I blog. Why do I devote so much time and effort into this undertaking? What benefit is there in it it for me? I must share with you a secret. I don't blog for fame and fortune. I don't even blog so that I can have a large audience of readers. I blog for an audience of one, myself. I blog so that I can have a space where I can document various websites and learning activities connected to Educational Technology and develop my thoughts and theories about EdTech.

     

I am not saying, G-d forbid, that you, the readers, are unimportant. You are very important to me and I get much pleasure from when you comment on my blog, email me about it, or retweet my postings. But you are just gravy. The real reason I blog is for me not you. 

     

As a student, I was always the quiet one who took copious notes, understood most if not all that was going on during the lesson, but would rarely raise my hand or speak unless directly called upon. When the teacher asked a question, often I was still trying to completely understand what the teacher was asking for, when another adroit student had already answered it. I am smart but not a quick thinker. I do not do well in verbal arguments and only debate well when I am overly prepared.

Writing helps me think. When I blog, I better develop my own ideas so that I can then share them with others both in my school and outside of it. I even copy and email many of my blog posts to my teachers in my school as a regular email column that I call "Tech Tips for Teachers".

I think it very important that we give opportunities for our students to do the same. To write well requires thinking deeply. If we want to develop thinking students in the various subject areas then writing is important across the curriculum. If we could get our kids to write online through blogging or online discussion forums (like we have on The Frisch School Wiki), we can help our students to be more thoughtful learners and succeed academically in all subject areas.