Why should teachers consider blogging? Richardson says that blogging gives kids an opportunity to publish very easily and helps students discover a particular passion and connectivity to others who share the in same. Although blogging is a handy tool for teaching, not all his students explore the transitive implementation of the blog.
My students are generally techno-savvy. Most of them have either engaged in a blog or probably even run their very own. But from an educational and pedagogical standpoint, blogging is more informal interaction than anything else - at least for them. Like Richardson, I too want students to utilize the tool in an educational setting, perhaps engaging in a conversation with an expert for a project or sharing ideas about an assignment. In actuality, blogs evoke the three fundamental skills of learning: reading, writing, and communicating. So despite the lack of formality of blogs, learning is nevertheless taking place and should be recognized for its achievement - regardless of how unprofessional it may appear. Besides, teachers should be able to introduce the tool and gear students toward proper facilitation for class purposes.
Check out this website for tips on blogging with caution. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that blogging welcomes all viewers and that there are some things about ourselves we do not want leaking into the web. http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Anonymity/blog-anonymously.php
This website by Dave Taylor brings up a good point about the potential of virtual bullies, with audience in tow, who ridicule and harass other students' work as if in a physical setting. Although blogs can easily be deleted at the author's convenience, the chance of humiliation is still uncontrollable. I think even virtual harassment can have a very harmful effect on a student's emotional bubble. http://www.askdavetaylor.com/are_there_dangers_in_having_high_school_students_blog.html
