Why Blog?

Someone asked me recently what blogs were for and why she should be interested? That is a rather complex question. The word blog comes from the elision of the two words Web and log. They started off as Web journals or diaries, but soon people began to see a much large use for them. It gives anyone a voice in this big, scary, intimidating world of ours.

The use of blogs in education have become a widely accepted medium of "adding" to the classroom experience. It is carrying the learning experience beyond the four walls of the daily classroom. Different educators use blogs in many different ways. It is all up to you and your imagination, really. It can be used as a less formal conversation with your and your student's whole family. It can be used to post assignments or those pictures of the last field trip. The lastest "class gossip" or the new book talk information your are doing in your class.

Many people and organizations have made blogs a major part of their identity, such as Blog of the Nation from NPR. There are blogs that have shaped politics, fan popularity, product sales, latest trends, etc.

Our students are already using blogs and social networking as part of their everyday "world." We kind of owe it to ourselves and to them to keep up and utilize these opportunities to our advantage in helping shape and structure their educational environment.