Prue Salter’s Blog: Exploring the Power of Technology as a Learning Tool

What prompted these musings? Firstly a comment from a fellow blogger about disguising what is really an ad as a blog (http://forblogssake.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/when-is-a-blog-an-ad/) and secondly some comments from some classmates about their shyness and insecurities about publicly posting their thoughts on a blog as part of their assignments for this course.

I have a theory. I think a TRUE blogger blogs because a true blogger can’t help themselves. I am basing this theory on nothing more than my personal observations (very scientific). A month or so ago prior to starting this course I had nothing to ever do with blogs and no knowledge of blogs (other than having heard of Perez Hilton as a celebrity gossip blogger). I had no idea there were serious blogs out there or blogs that could be useful - I guess if I ever thought about them I thought they were simply the mad ravings of a tea-cosy headed geek. But the moment I set up this blog I was hooked. I am attempting to keep this blog more of an educational discourse on all things e-learning (of which blogging is certainly a feature) rather than my musings on everyday life (I am afraid if I started rambling all my thoughts about things like how people drive in Sydney, our tax system, our politicians, my new lounge room furniture etc etc I would never stop).  But I can see how it becomes an addictive process…..IF you are a certain type of person.

So what types of person blogs? As a child I kept journals, I wrote letters to myself to read in the future, I wrote long letters to my grandparents regularly, when I moved overseas I wrote comprehensive emails to all and sundry boring them senseless probably of our adventures while the last few years I have created web pages with commentary and photos of our travel for friends and family to share. Why? Cause I can’t help it. I would write it even if no-one ever read it as I feel compelled to record my thoughts. In simple terms, my nature is that of a chronicler. Perhaps one is either born like this or not, it is a matter of genes.

So what else do we find in the nature of a true blogger?

A true blogger is fairly self-confident and has a strong sense of self-worth. Why? Because they need to have conviction about their thoughts and be prepared to put them out there and be prepared to take any flak that they may generate.

A true blogger also needs to not worry too much about what other people think. This is something I have never had a problem with - and I think it is very much related to the previous point.

A true blogger is opinionated. Ask them and they will have an opinion about pretty much anything and be prepared to share it at the drop of a hat.

Now while I have pretty much described the compulsion to blog from my point of view, I guess another alternative to those who just feel compelled to record their thoughts and musings is the exhibitionist type of blogger, who, while opinionated, perhaps does care a bit too much about what people think and so is perhaps blogging more for what other people will think than for their own benefit. There are probably many different other reasons for blogging but I like to think my definition captures what I am terming the TRUE blogger.

My biggest problem as a blogger is brevity. Just haven’t got the hang of that part of it yet.