Pros and Cons of Using Blogs as Classroom Journals

Before you decide to use a blog in your classroom you should consider some of the pros and cons of using blogs vs. paper journals.

Cons

• Weblogs require access to the internet by all participants. If this is an issue with any members of the class or there is not enough time for regular access to school computer facilities, then blogging is not a good choice for recording student journals. Also, if internet connectivity issues occur, it prevents students from getting to and recording thoughts on their blogs.
• Some schools don’t allow students to post on the internet for security reasons. This can always be addressed by making student blogs private and viewable only with password access.
• It’s hard to post hand drawn materials. Students can add illustrations or draw diagrams easily in a written or paper journal. Posting drawings in an electronic blog can be problematic without access to the right equipment such as scanners or drawing tablets.
• Cannot access if internet connectivity is lost. Of course, the major drawback of using any internet or Web 2.0 <provide link to term> tool is that if you cannot access it you can’t use it. However, if students can access the blog at anytime they can return to view and edit it when they do have access.
• Students who cannot type might be limited. Accessibility can be an issue with blogs. However, if blogs are being written in class, special needs students can be paired with a partner who can assist them in writing their content.

Pros

• There is no paper or notebooks to keep track of or lose. Teachers do not have to worry about students losing their journals.
• Is accessible at anytime. Given security access and a password to a blog site, a student can add their reflections on what they are learning outside of the classroom. This promotes ‘real-time’ learning and reflection. Also, students can review and append their thoughts if their thinking changes and evolves.
• Students’ peers and parents can access and comment. To provide student or peer feedback on journals, students must pass their journals to classmates one person at a time. It’s much easier to provide or receive feedback on a blog. Web blogs allow several individuals at once to comment on any one blog posting. This multiplied access can promote social learning among students.
• Students can embed links to supporting materials and media. Unlike the paper journals, students can easily reference links to materials or content that they find online. A student can reference a video that explains slope intercept or reference journal writings of other students who are solving similar problems.
• Teachers can view a history of learning easily.

You can view a few examples of student and teacher mathematics blogs here:

• Math Thinker
• Math 816
• Exponential Curve (High school teacher’s blog, but examples are still rich and appropriate)