Advantages and Disadvantages of Blogging in the Classroom

Should blogs be used as a tool for teaching classes? Is it a valuable resource for teachers to use? What are the pros and cons of having a classroom blog?

Here are some of my ideas, I would love to here yours.

Advantages

• Having a class blog that all the students could participate in would allow for creativity to flow between students
• It could also be used to inform student and parents of homework, tests, quizzes, ect. and provide a way for the students/ parents to ask questions to the teacher
• It opens the lines of communication outside of school hours
• It can be used to help students think of ways to effectively commincate their ideas in today's world.
• It's fun!
• It keeps students involved so they are not just being lectured but rather they are taking edcation into their own hands.
• It helps student/ teacher relations as it makes the teacher more familiar as he is knowledgable about their technology.

Disadvantages

• Anytime minors are posting information on the internet either about themselves, family, school, ect. it poses a threat to them. Therefore there is a great need for the blog to secure to all outside people.
• Not all kids have access to computer and internet.
• Being on the compter all day takes students away from being outside and being active.
• It is a big commitment for the teacher to be available to students/ parents after school hours.

This is all the advantages and disadvantages I can think of at the moment, however I would love to here from others on their view and if they have some pros and cons I have not thought of.