News on the Instructional Value of Blogs

Hi eMentors,

Here is an excerpt of an article that speaks of blog as a useful instructional tool that the teacher can use:

Students are familiar with blogging, in which they go to a Web site such as myspace.com and post their thoughts and opinions. While not widespread, some teachers have set up blogs to communicate with students on classroom Web sites.

A school district near Richmond, Va., recently unveiled a program of teacher blogs, and school blogs were the subject of an article in the July issue of American School Board Journal.
In Arizona, teacher Ben Goodman at Cimarron Springs Elementary in Surprise set up a blog for his students last year on the classroom Web site. As a computer lab teacher, a blog was a natural extension of his skills.

Teachers often shy away from blogs because they worry that students will post inappropriate comments. Goodman came up with a solution to prevent this: On his next blog, students will have an identification number and password so he can track who makes each comment.
Goodman predicts more teachers will use blogs as they discover them.
"It just takes time," he says. "There probably aren't very many teachers who use blogs themselves, and if you don't understand the potential, it's hard to get excited about it."

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060107/LIVING/601070339/1007