Blogging in Education

I view blogs as a wonderful tool to use as an educator.  One of the aspects I find useful is access it gives students to the teacher, classmates, and classroom without being present in the classroom.  Students are provided greater access through blogs to quality information and social interaction when they are not actively present in the classroom.  This would allow me as the teacher to post instructions, assignments, or study guides to a blog where the students would have access at anytime.  It also allows me as the teacher to encourage blogging between students.  This promotes conversation outside of the classroom in a social networking setting where students can engage in conversation and collaboration in addition to regular classroom interaction. 

I also look at blogging as tool for me personally to use as a teaching journal.  I can document teaching experiences, lesson plans, and insights that I personally go through.  This can be a reflective tool for myself, but also a tool for peers who are interested in following my blog.  This type of blogging can promote engaging discussion between educators over tips and techniques that were or were not successful in the classroom. 

The most important use I see blogging providing is an additional source for students outside the classroom to gain access to additional learning.  I believe that students respond well to the use of social media in their schooling.  Because social media is embedded in our culture - especially in the culture of our youth - this kind of tool is significant in providing quality education.