The Question: a new twist on academic blogging at West Virginia University

What a great and different way to promote an academic department to the campus community and the world!

I know, I know, this first line isn’t very informative, but I really think West Virginia University is defintely onto something with the blog recently launched by its Philosophy department and its Web Services: The Question.

And, actually I’m not the only one as the blog is highlighted in the Jan. 22 issue of Sports Illustrated.

Yes, you’ve read correctly Sports Illustrated and a philosophy blog…

This academic department blog invites its readers to answer questions of the philosophical kind. And, because VWU went (and won) the Gator Bowl — that’s why SI got all interested in the first place — The Question more recently dealt with philosophical questions such as “Is Winning Everything?” (32 reader comments at the time of this writing) or “What’s the Difference between a Game and a Sport?”.

What I really find interesting is how this academic initiative is really about conversations, which is why a blog is such the perfect fit.

By focusing on a single question by blog post and inviting “guest philosophers” to weigh in, the blog makes philosophy go out of its academic closet. It’s also a good example on how to promote academic expertise in a format accessible to the general public.

In the email he sent this morning about this blog, David Olsen from VWU Web Services was right on target when he wrote: “it shows that there are interesting uses for blogs and ones other then just the “admissions blog” that might affect recruitment and getting people engaged directly with a department.”

If any of you use blogs (or wikis, podcasts, online video, etc.) in some innovative ways, drop me a note at karine@collegewebeditor.com. I’m always interested in showcasing good ideas and original initiatives.

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