I think that blogs are pretty cool things. This blog, a professional one that I started a few years ago, allows me to post some of my ideas and opinions about Ed tech and specific topics/tools. I also use it to show my online students (who are teachers) what a blog looks like, how to use one, and why blog.
There are loads of ways that blogs have really become a mainstream tool in recent years. When I see "hits" on searches I do for Ed tech or other educational topics, I always find myself on people's blogs-most of which are pretty religious about posting (I wish I was, but am not at this point of my life).
When I am looking at posts on my Linked In groups, many of them take me to blogs. There is so much to learn from them. I know a family who did a blog when they accompanied their daughter to the London Summer Olympics, which was so cool to really hear the details. Another dear young friend of mine and her husband just welcomed their first baby a few weeks ago...they started a blog a couple months ago to keep family and friends updated on the pending arrival..and now I am getting to see all the pictures and stories about Addison Elizabeth, even though she lives in Chesapeake VA.
Why would I use a blog with students? Simple answer-to get them to write...to get them to respond to an idea or a prompt...to get them to communicate! A blog can be tailored to whatever you want it to be...that is cool, and students like to write on them. Any subject area and topic can be used!
Did any of you keep a diary when you were younger? A blog is really a 21st century diary that you choose NOT to lock and keep secrets in, but rather share information and ideas with others.
What do you think? How might you use a blog? Click Comment and write your ideas!
