When I really want to understand a certain topic, I sit down and write a blog about it. Blogging is a great way to learn and at the same time be part of a network of fellow ‘learners’. It’s also, of course, great writing practice. And that, in turn, is crucial for effectively conveying a message. That’s why I believe blogging should be part of the curriculum in high schools and universities worldwide.
Do you remember that time you were deep into your textbook, devouring page after page? “Wow, I’m already halfway through!” And then someone asked what topics were covered in the book and you were completely stumped? Ever since, you’ve probably been diligently taking notes on every page you read. We all know that if we want to remember something, we need to write it down. Somehow, the process of writing etches the information into your brain. When you just read something, it’s often difficult to recall the details later. But once you write it down, it becomes much easier to remember what you just wrote.
External Thinking Process
For me, blogging is actually a kind of ‘external thinking process’. It always helps me learn more about certain topics. Sometimes it even helps me form an opinion. When I really want to understand the essence of something, I sit down and write a blog about it. Because, what do you do when you blog? Ideally, you start by researching, gathering information, and reading other articles and blogs. Then comes the cycle of writing, rereading, editing, and continuing to write. And when I write, it’s almost as if I’m writing to myself—like I’m explaining things to myself. That’s partly true, but since I blog to help others, I always write with my audience in mind. And that motivates me to structure the message clearly and break it into digestible chunks. That’s only possible if you truly understand the topic. Precisely because blogging is such a powerful tool in learning processes, I believe it should be part of high school and university curricula worldwide.
Two Types of Writing
Did you know there are actually two types of writing? A Norwegian researcher named Olga Dysthe once wrote about the difference between what she called ‘thinking-writing’ and ‘presentation writing’.
Thinking-Writing
This is the kind of writing we do when we’re not writing with an audience in mind. For example, when we’re writing for ourselves while thinking about certain problems or topics. Thinking-writing is also often called process writing. Remember when you were taking notes while reading that textbook? You were the only one who could decipher and understand them, right? That’s thinking-writing.
Presentation Writing
This is the type of writing we do when we write with an audience in mind. So, when we write to convey a message to our readers. Remember when you wrote that piece for your colleagues? That’s presentation writing. Blogging actually combines both types of writing. It has elements of thinking-writing, because when you blog, you often quickly write about something that comes to mind. That’s similar to thinking-writing. But blogging also includes aspects of presentation writing. Because when you blog, you are very aware that you’re writing for an audience. You’re writing to explain things to your readers and to help them. It’s not like writing in a personal diary that only you read. Often, you write to persuade others or to make a point. If you’re active in a network of like-minded bloggers, you comment on each other’s blogs. That way, everyone in the network benefits from the discussion and shared knowledge. We’ve now learned that blogs are great for learning, practicing writing, and engaging with a network of other students. Starting a blog would therefore be perfect for students to accelerate their learning process. Imagine if they all did research, wrote blogs, formed opinions, and commented on each other’s posts. It would all become more active, fun, and especially a more shared experience. So? When will I read your first blog?
Raymond te Veldhuis CheckData and DataJobs.nl