What I think of blogging for teaching and learning purposes

I used Blackboard’s Blog Tool in my online composition classes for a few semesters; it is a wonderful avenue for students to do some low stakes writing. I make their blogs private, preferring to only give myself access to their writing; this affords an excellent opportunity for one-on-one time with my web-based classes. I give semi-weekly prompts, ranging from something associated to what we’re working on to “anything goes”. Students develop a distinct voice, and benefit from comments that I provide. They are unencumbered with the specters of being graded and judged by their classmates, and this allows them to unleash creativity many of them were not aware they possessed. There is no length requirement (other than in one prompt I limit them to two words- “This class ____ ____.” I also do the same type thing with my campus classes, but so far have not forced them to use the Blog tool, preferring to allow them to write longhand in a notebook or on a PC in Word format. After seeing how advantageous the blogging experience can be, I plan to incorporate it more fully in all my classes.