Martin Weller on scholarly blogging.

just as i found myself wondering about the decision to resuscitate--and under a pseudonym? while on the job market? cost/benefit? will i get dooced, now or later?--up pops this guy, claiming that

In terms of intellectual fulfillment, creativity, networking, impact, productivity, and overall benefit to my scholarly life, blogging wins hands down. I have written books, produced online courses, led research efforts, and directed a number of university projects. While these have all been fulfilling, blogging tops the list because of its room for experimentation and potential to connect to timely intelligent debate.

(and, yes, it's from the Chronicle. and yes, i was over there trying to see if there were new wrinkles to the Riley situation. i'll work on diversifying.)

Weller asks some necessary questions about how to recognize blogging and other forms of digital scholarship once "publishing" is a weird verb. per usual, i wonder what will happen to the vanguard in these debates; i've already heard stories--just anecdotes--of colleagues of colleagues whose choice to publish online rather than through traditional channels has hampered tenure achievement, weighed against them in competitive job decisions, etc. Weller himself admits he's published fewer articles since devoting himself to the blog, but professes to enjoy "the establishment of a global peer network that helps me stay up to date with my topic, increased research collaboration, and more invitations to give talks," so much "that it's been worth the trade-off."

he also devotes some space to questions about forms and content. when i started blogging, it was more or less the platform for collecting thoughts online--we weren't podcasting, tweeting, tumblring, or whatever other containers and networks my students are currently enjoying. as i get this thing on its feet, i wonder if it's a dated device, or perhaps not the one best suited to this purpose. which begs the question of if this is about thinking through my own stuff, curating links, maintaining connections, or some soup that involves all of these.

probably that last one, but as i raise this trial balloon, i'll at least try for a mix of thoughtful reflection, open-ended questioning and link collecting. possibly also some kitten videos.

and: here's Weller's blog.