Why use a blog as a teacher?

When thinking about the value in using a blog as a teacher, both as an individual and with my students, the biggest use that springs to mind is much of what we are doing in this class. We are using our blogs as a tool for reflection. As we think about, learn about, and explore web 2.0 tools and ways to grow our Personal Learning Networks, we are writing about how we can use these tools and what we are learning and gaining from our PLNs. I would even say that this may be one of the biggest uses for blogs in general, people voicing their personal opinions by reflecting on their day, their thoughts on a current news topic, or reflecting on an academic topic.

As teachers, one of the ways we improve is to reflect upon our teaching and learning, so that we can keep what went well, and change or improve what didn't. We should be passing that same skill along to our students, and a blog would help them do that.

I also see a blog as a way to have a discussion around a central topic. If each student had an account, or anonymous commenting were enabled (where then, of course, they would still be required to sign their post with their name), a teacher could put up a question for class response, and students could have to either post one answer showcasing their knowledge, or have a discussion with other students based upon their classmates' responses.

If each student had their own blog, it would be a great way for them all to share their opinion or take a position on a topic, and then have the class respond to them. The benefit of this would be that students have an opportunity to think about and process their statements before sharing with the class, instead of the more on-the-spot thinking in a class discussion, and then everyone would have an opportunity to share and respond, something that might be hindered by in-class time restraints.