Use of blogs in education

1)     What is the educational value of blogs and blogging to the 21^st century learner?

Utilizing a blogg is a great ay for wan educator to reflect, communicate, and distribute information to a broad audience.  The biggest value is in reflection.  Being able to use comments from other bloggers to brainstorm and create an online dialogue is a major asset to any learner.  Blogging also addresses the 5 SBEC standards of knowledge, skills, and performance that when achieved are directly aligned with improved student achievement.  It allows educators to use current technology to stay informed.  There is also a wide variety of information that can be acquired by blogging and reading other educators bloggs.  This information can be used to create new solutions that fit the particular situation one has at their own school.  It allows for communication that is moving dramatically to the online world with other educators, community members, parents, and even students.  It can even be used to plan, organize, deliver, and evaluate instruction using the current technology.

2)     What are the concerns of blogs and blogging in education?

There are a few concerns about using blogs or blogging for an educator in today's society.  The biggest concerns as an educator is that posting thoughts can be used against you.  In blogging you are putting your thoughts and reflections out there for the whole cyber world to see.  Words can be misconstrued without non verbal cues to assist in content.  Distributing personal information is always a concern in the digital world we live in.  There is so many stories of information posted being used in a way that it was not intended.  Young people usually have less inhibitions about putting personal thoughts, information and pictures for all to see.  They do not realize that this information is out there in print and easily saved for later reference.  The easiest way to avoid this is not to post anything you don't want everyone to see or read.  Finding that line while blogging can be tricky.

3)     How can you use blogging to communicate with school stakeholders?

Blogging can be easily used to communicate with stake holders.  Bloggs are a great way to send out a bunch of information to a diverse audience quickly.  In recent past educational leaders have posted things in newspapers or sent out memos of things going on at school.  Now more of that information can be distributed in real time.  Stake holders can now go whenever is convenient to them and read whatever they are interested in.  They can follow such things as board meeting overviews, school happenings, or even follow such things as school improvement progression.  The possibilities are becoming more and more endless.  The great thing about blogging is they can also comment or ask questions if they so choose.  The educator can then answer the questions or concerns without having to hold the old town hall meetings or meeting with each individual person on the phone or in person.  If a person still has a concern they could go meet with the administrator but many of the questions could have been answered from the blogg.