Blog #11 Personal Blog Benefits

Although books can be engrossing entertainment, even the best works seem to lose some of their gleam when imposed on students. My posting to the group blog has been somewhat like reading an assigned book: I realize blogging is a great thing, but because posting was one of many assignments, blogging often felt like a chore. I suspect that at least some of my group mates felt the same because several got behind in their postings. At least one benefit of this activity has helped me to see assignments from a student's perspective; being a student helps me to understand and anticipate my students' reactions. Students sometimes actually enjoy assigned books. Likewise, regarding both the discussion postings and the blog requirements, when I came across interesting topics and had something to contribute, the exchanges did not seem like assignments. Therefore, my goal as a teacher would be to use blogging at carefully selected times when the topics and exchanges would seem to be the most lively and engaging. Despite time constraints and a heavy workload, I realize what powerful communication tools blogs can be and look forward to using them in the future. Until I get a job, I will probably be the one adding to and monitoring a blog on my husband's church website. Learning is enhanced through sharing, and blogging provides a great opportunity to share.
Blogs appeal to me as educational tools for several reasons. One component is the asynchronous nature of blogs which allows people to participate at convenient times or when they have had time to mull over an idea. Blogs also create an audience whose presence may cause students to be more careful and intentional in their writing. Finally, blogs provide a record of who has responded and how ideas have evolved.