Blogs provide several benefits for both students and teachers. For students, blogs help develop writing skills, foster collaboration, and engage digital natives by allowing them to share work with a broad audience. Blogs also allow self-directed learning and help prepare students for online networking. For teachers, blogs facilitate professional development by connecting them with other experts, provide a forum for sharing ideas and discussions, and make them aware of current trends relevant to students. Blogs additionally give teachers alternative ways to connect with and engage students.

1. Reasons to use BlogsReasons to use Blogs
By Amary RiveraBy Amary Rivera
amaryrivera@gmail.comamaryrivera@gmail.com

2. For Students:For Students:
 For students:For students:
 Blogs are fun and help students develop their writing skills.Blogs are fun and help students develop their writing skills.
 Blogs can increase the sense of community as students learn from one another andBlogs can increase the sense of community as students learn from one another and
discover similarities.discover similarities.
 Blogs can substitute a class journal and provide the opportunity to receive feedbackBlogs can substitute a class journal and provide the opportunity to receive feedback
from a wide variety of readers.from a wide variety of readers.
 Blogs can foster collaboration and team-building skills as students work together toBlogs can foster collaboration and team-building skills as students work together to
achieve a common goal.achieve a common goal.
 Blogs can increase the time students spend reading outside of the classroom sinceBlogs can increase the time students spend reading outside of the classroom since
students are more likely to spend a longer amount of time reading and responding tostudents are more likely to spend a longer amount of time reading and responding to
a blog than reading a textbook.a blog than reading a textbook.
 Blogs can be used to encourage discussion anytime — whether in or outside of class.Blogs can be used to encourage discussion anytime — whether in or outside of class.

3. For Students:For Students:
 Blogs are a fun way for students to develop an online portfolios.Blogs are a fun way for students to develop an online portfolios.
 Most students now are digital natives. Blogs engage them by presenting material in aMost students now are digital natives. Blogs engage them by presenting material in a
way that is familiar and comfortable.way that is familiar and comfortable.
 Students have a larger audience when they blog. If the blog is public, they areStudents have a larger audience when they blog. If the blog is public, they are
potentially writing for a global audience. This knowledge may empower them and theirpotentially writing for a global audience. This knowledge may empower them and their
work.work.
 Blogs allow for self-directed learning. If they are assigned as independent orBlogs allow for self-directed learning. If they are assigned as independent or
homework projects, students can work on them when they feel inspired to do so.homework projects, students can work on them when they feel inspired to do so.
 Blogs promote multimedia interaction. Students can post pictures, videos, links, andBlogs promote multimedia interaction. Students can post pictures, videos, links, and
more.more.
 Blogs help parents view student work without having to have parent-teacherBlogs help parents view student work without having to have parent-teacher
conference.conference.
 Working online fosters a sense of global interaction. Students can be taught toWorking online fosters a sense of global interaction. Students can be taught to
understand the dangers and the benefits of interacting online and producing workunderstand the dangers and the benefits of interacting online and producing work
online.online.


4. For Students:For Students:
 Teachers can communicate with parents directly and as a group throughTeachers can communicate with parents directly and as a group through
blogs.blogs.
 Students can work on collaborative writing projects through blogs.Students can work on collaborative writing projects through blogs.
 They prepare students for online social networking.They prepare students for online social networking.
 Work is permanently stored on a blog. Students can review their work —Work is permanently stored on a blog. Students can review their work —
theoretically — for years to come. Blog space can be obtained for free, andtheoretically — for years to come. Blog space can be obtained for free, and
so long as the teacher doesn’t remove the content, it will remain there.so long as the teacher doesn’t remove the content, it will remain there.
 Students can determine the topic of posts on blogs, making them moreStudents can determine the topic of posts on blogs, making them more
inspired and excited to participate.inspired and excited to participate.
 Students can communicate with their teachers and other students through aStudents can communicate with their teachers and other students through a
blog. This is especially helpful for shy students who might not otherwiseblog. This is especially helpful for shy students who might not otherwise
reach out.reach out.

5. For Students:For Students:
 They give students an outlet for ideas or comments that may have occurredThey give students an outlet for ideas or comments that may have occurred
to them after an in-class discussion has ended.to them after an in-class discussion has ended.
 Blogs will help students widen their vocabulary and improve their grammarBlogs will help students widen their vocabulary and improve their grammar
and editing skills.and editing skills.
 Students can use blogs as a space to brainstorm ideas and get feedback onStudents can use blogs as a space to brainstorm ideas and get feedback on
their ideas from other classmates.their ideas from other classmates.
 Blogs provide a virtual announcement board for important messages aboutBlogs provide a virtual announcement board for important messages about
homework, assignments, deadlines, and more.homework, assignments, deadlines, and more.

6. For Teachers:For Teachers:
 Blogs help link an individual educator with a community of experts to offerBlogs help link an individual educator with a community of experts to offer
advise, share tips, and experiences.advise, share tips, and experiences.
 Teachers can build their professional learning network through blogs byTeachers can build their professional learning network through blogs by
connecting with other experts and learning about new tools in their field.connecting with other experts and learning about new tools in their field.
 Blogs can be used as a forum to share and gather teaching ideas includingBlogs can be used as a forum to share and gather teaching ideas including
lesson plans, activities, and curriculum.lesson plans, activities, and curriculum.
 Teachers can learn more about Web 2.0 tools and become moreTeachers can learn more about Web 2.0 tools and become more
comfortable and familiar with them through the practice of writing a blog.comfortable and familiar with them through the practice of writing a blog.
 Blogs become a support board where teachers vent frustrations in theBlogs become a support board where teachers vent frustrations in the
classroom or in the working environment and receive feedback andclassroom or in the working environment and receive feedback and
enoucragementenoucragement
 Blogs help you meet people you wouldn’t otherwise be able to meet.Blogs help you meet people you wouldn’t otherwise be able to meet.

7. For Teachers:For Teachers:
 Blogs make teachers aware of current events and trends that areBlogs make teachers aware of current events and trends that are
important to students — especially pop culture.important to students — especially pop culture.
 Blogs allow educators to initiate discussions that are meaningful andBlogs allow educators to initiate discussions that are meaningful and
relevant to them and create a sense of community amongrelevant to them and create a sense of community among
educators.educators.
 Blogs give teachers a forum to share unconventional ideas that mayBlogs give teachers a forum to share unconventional ideas that may
not have had a hearing in more traditional outlets.not have had a hearing in more traditional outlets.
 Blogs can be used to facilitate classroom discussion, post questionsBlogs can be used to facilitate classroom discussion, post questions
based on the readings, assign discussion groups, host competitions,based on the readings, assign discussion groups, host competitions,
and highlight the “Student of the Week” or “Student of the Month”and highlight the “Student of the Week” or “Student of the Month”

8. For TeachersFor Teachers
 Blogs can provide a record of what was done in class.Blogs can provide a record of what was done in class.
 Blogs can be used to track attendance if students are required toBlogs can be used to track attendance if students are required to
participate in daily discussions.participate in daily discussions.
 Blogs give teachers another way to connect with students.Blogs give teachers another way to connect with students.
Inspirational notes, words of encouragement, and advice can all beInspirational notes, words of encouragement, and advice can all be
shared with students through a blog.shared with students through a blog.
 Teachers can use blogs to teach students about other cultures, andTeachers can use blogs to teach students about other cultures, and
to connect students with their peers in other countries.to connect students with their peers in other countries.
 Blogs can be used to make last minute or emergencyBlogs can be used to make last minute or emergency
announcements to students or parents.announcements to students or parents.