• To provide a real audience for student writing
• To provide extra reading practice for students.
• As online student learner journals that can be read by their peers.
• To guide students to online resources appropriate for their level.
• To increase the sense of community in a class.
• To encourage shy students to participate.
• To stimulate out-of-class discussion.
• To encourage a process-writing approach.
• As an online portfolio of student written work.
• To help build a closer relationship between students in large classes.