A friend at school asked me today if I "subscribed" to any blogs. When I smiled and replied yes she responded with such verve "oh, my gosh! I have become addicted!! What are you subscribed to?" It was like talking about what happened on our favorite show (glee of course) only we were able to swap stories about our favorite topics. It was great!! I think that blogging is more open and not as constructed. To me, it allows me freedom in my choice of reading. If I lose interest...I just move on. It didn't cost me any monetary funds so I don't feel that sense of loss if I decide to ignore something.
Most people do not worry about grammar as much in a blog so that person has a tendency to speak more "from the heart" so to speak. If that person is writing about something that is near and dear to them you will usually have more of a feel of that persons personality. It is hard to "hear" the fluctuation or the sarcasm in a persons writing. I can not tell you how many times I will go over an email stressing if it "sounds" okay or not. Blogs seem to lose some of the coldness associated in written word. For example: In dy/dan's no homework blog "jonathon" takes exception to dy/dan not assigning homework. When I read Jonathon's actual response I thought "why do people comment without reading the passage?" but when dy/dan quoted him back after deciding to assign homework it sounded (to me) different, nicer, more...I don't know...educated. I guess that being able to quickly jot what you are feeling down could be bad as well as good. That goes for commenting as well.
Commenting...ahhhhh, wonderful, fabulous commenting! How does commenting contribute to the writing and meaning-making? I have two words for you: anonymous interaction. Blogs are almost like a gifted classroom…yes I said gifted, not regular. If you have ever seen both in action you will understand. I have met very few gifted students that do not have an opinion on EVERYTHING and will be happy to tell it to you. Getting most of my students to even comment in my class is like pulling teeth. BUT! Give them a computer and tell them to give their opinions anonymously and you have just opened their minds. Most students are afraid of looking like an idiot. I know I was. Most people have a switch that tells them to not say things out loud. Take away their "identity" online and they lose all inhibitions about speaking out.
Speaking of speaking out...at the risk of looking like an idiot I am boycotting this question: Is there a "blogging literacy?" What? OK, I know what blogging means and I know what literacy means...but my brain will not compute the two together...i keep coming up with being able to read what you wrote. and that makes no sense! Can someone please explain it to me?
Blogging sometimes allows us to have no rules when it comes to grammar. It [grammar] usually goes out the window. If we do not see correct grammar how can we learn to recognize it? However, <HUGE sigh> <maybe even a groan>, after reading How to Prevent Another Leonardo da Vinci I also have to incur that it is extremely (even more so than the actual grammar part) important not to take away a students confidence so much so that you stifle their need to think outside the box. Answer: give less directions? maybe? I teach Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness (also know as "da cookin class"). I will give you one guess what their favorite lessons are. If you guessed the actual cooking ones you are correct. How many cooks will I produce every year? How many CHEFS??? What is the difference? Cooks do not create new dishes or ideas. They like to follow a recipe and they NEVER think outside the box.
I want more chefs in the world.
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