What Makes a Good Blog?

I'm not sure just what makes a good blog, but I've gotten some ideas from the ones that I have visited.  I believe that having a blog or posting your thoughts, questions, or work on a blog, from a student's perspective, is as inviting as posting something on Facebook or YouTube.  They seem to love to 'put themselves out there' where anyone can find out about them.  Where many students would find very little to say if I would ask them to write their questions or comments on a piece of paper and hand them in, most would love to have their thoughts and questions show up on a blog where others can read what they have to say.

On the teacher end of things, a blog can serve several purposes; not only as a forum for students to keep on track and involved in their class, but it can also be accessed by their parents or guardians, making them more a part of the equation..  At my son's high school each teacher has their classes on a moodle site.  I found I loved being able to go into each moodle and see what was going on in that classroom.  It was also a great way to check up on my son and make sure he was on track.

Since I don't presently have a web presence connected to school, this will make a big difference.  I can't imagine having a blog and not putting as much into to it as is possible; a place where assignments are clearly laid out, a place for questions and answers, and for students to display their work.  Students can see what their peers are thinking and doing, and as a result it may impact how they will interpret their own work.  It can be in on-line equivalent of a newsletter but so much more.

Once you get the hang of it, blogs can be an easier way for people to self-publish.  Knowing that others can and will see what you have to say makes a difference in how  you say what you will say.  Students will hopefully put more time and thought into what they share because this forum will make it more important to them.