in CCR 711, Network(ed) Rhetorics
Mortensen and Walker review the use of weblogs in their research processes. Their thinking about blogging changed with use. At first, blogging was seen “mainly as tools for focusing, for exchanging information and being part of a discussion…” (250). As researchers and bloggers at once, they immersed themselves in their research. Over time and “[m]ost importantly, [their] weblogs became tools with which to think about [their] research, its values, connections and links to other aspects of the world” (251). From their description it seems that at first blogs were mainly communication tools and then with use, turned into tools for critical thinking.
Their research “assumes that weblogs are more than simple tools and that the way [they] write in a blog reveals something about how [they] think that would not be explicit in another medium” (253). This assumption is a hard thing to explain to non-bloggers. It’s been suggested to me that I research and write a paper comparing other tools for writing to blogs to determine how blog usage impacts the composition process in comparison with other tools. I have been resisting that work.
I don’t know why exactly. But, part of my resistance has to do with resistance to technology (not my own you see, but resistance on the part of others). Mortensen and Walker also state, “University academics have been slower to adapt to the form” (252). In my experience, academics have been resistant to technology in general. For example, here at Mizzou we don’t have any computer and writing classrooms. I’m shocked. Yet, the whole campus has wireless internet access. In my iBook, that’s a missed opportunity for the English department.
When I was at UTA, I was able to act as a teaching assistant as an undergrad precisely because I was familiar with computers and writing. It was a wonderful opportunity for me. I was amazed then that I was asked to participate in that way and I still find myself amazed that after all these years we’ve been using computers there is still so much resistance to their use in English departments.
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