Fusion09 presentation entitled as Good Reasons to Blog by D2L Staff.  About 30 people in attendance.

• Defined what a blog is.  Held a very strict definition that focused on the formality of a blog.  I'd argue that lack of formality does not disqualify a blog from having educational value; it just reflects on the (lack of) professionalism of the author but may still be valuable.  Professionalism does not equal value in all contexts.  Sat next to an English teacher who disagreed.
• Blogs vs. discussion boards: a matter of ownership.  Blogs are more user-centric whereas discussison boards are more course-/topic-centric.
• Blog tool and Course Journal will be merging.  Option to have a course blog forthcoming.
• A good crystalization of a hurdle to using blogs: vulnerability students feel about writing in a semi-/public space about a topic in which they lack full confidence.
• No screenshots/demos of the blogging tool in D2L, why using it would be adventageous over 3rd party, or creative D2L-specific ideas on how to incorporate it. :-(