Blogs in the Classroom

I THINK THAT THERE ARE MORE PLUSSES TO BLOGS IN THE CLASSROOM THAN THERE ARE MINUSES. HAVING A BLOG FOR YOUR CLASSROOM CAN ONLY ADD TO THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR STUDENTS. AS LONG AS YOU KEEP YOUR BLOG EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL AND STRICTLY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE TO BE SEEN BY FACULTY, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS, IT IS A GREAT TOOL TO HAVE.
THE PLUSSES ARE WHATEVER YOU ADD TO YOUR BLOG TO HELP YOUR STUDENTS. MAYBE A CALENDAR FOR WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO THROUGOUT THE YEAR, COPIES OF HANDOUT, VIDEO OF LECTURES, LINKS TO EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES, ETC. EVEN IF YOU JUST HAVE A BLOG FOR REMINDERS EVERY WEEK, IT IS STILL VERY USEFUL TO HELP YOUR STUDENTS KEEP UP BETTER. ALSO, A POSITIVE ASPECT OF BLOGS IN THE CLASSROOM IS IT INTRODUCES THE STUDENT TO TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS A POSITIVE MOSTLY FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS THAT CAN GET STUDENTS TO USE COMPUTERS AT A YOUNGER AGE.
A MINUS OF BLOGS IN THE CLASSROOM IS WHAT YOU DO WITH IT. IF YOU ARE USING YOUR BLOG FOR EACH LESSON TRY TO STICK WITH IT AND NOT BE UNRELIABLE. STUDENTS NEED INFORMATION WELL AHEAD OF TIME AND THEY CAN HAVE THE TIME TO WORK WITH IT. SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO PUT INFORMATION ON YOUR BLOG THEN GET IT UP AS SOON AS YOU CAN FOR THE STUDENTS. I REALLY ADMIRE LISA FOR GOING TO THE ACCESS LAB AND PUTTING HER POST UP BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE. SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE HAD A LOT OF ASSIGNMENTS AND NEEDED TO GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY. THE ONLY OTHER NEGATIVE I CAN THINK OF IS THAT YOU COULD BE GIVING SOME STUDENTS AN ADVANTAGE OVER OTHERS. SOME LESS FORTUNATE FAMILIES MIGHT NOT HAVE A PERSONAL COMPUTER THAT GIVES THEM EASY ACCESS TO YOUR BLOG. OTHERS CAN GET THE INFORMATION WHENEVER THEY NEED IT.
OVERALL IT IS VERY GOOD TO PUT TO USE THIS FREE TOOL THAT CAN REALLY BROADEN YOUR STUDENTS' EXPERIENCE AND MAYBE ALLOW YOU TO DO MORE WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.