How can blogging be applied as an instructor?

I believe blogging is a powerful tool that can be used in many aspects: by students, for students, by teachers, for fellow teachers, for administrators, for parents, for community and school board members, for teachers-in-training - the list is endless. 

Students can utilize blogging either solo or in groups, to show reflection on both details in class discussion or an overall unit arc, posting of projects, and giving those who feel more comfortable speaking out in the digital world an opportunity to be heard without the performance anxiety of standing in front of a class.  As was mentioned in our class last Saturday, this type of tool is excellent for a foreign language course.  You could also easily set up book clubs where groups of students read the same novel and reflect, debate and discuss their viewpoints via blogging.  The possibilities are endless!

For teachers, blogging is invaluable as a method of communitcation to everyone: students, parents, teachers, community, etc.  Teachers could post their lesson plans so students who are absent can stay caught up, so parents can see what their kids are learning daily (because if they're anything like mine, all they say is "I liked recess"), and especially for families that have split custody so both sides can see how the child's doing when they aren't with them.  This is the situation I'm in personally, as we have 50/50 custody of my step-son, and too often we never hear or hear far too long after the fact of events that occured when he was with his mom.  Also it allows fellow faculty members to tie in aspects of their lesson plans with other classes, so the students receive a fuller view in their educative experience. 

Community and school board members would also love to read and respond (and hopefully post their own!) to blogs by the teachers and students.  The sense of family that could be created in a school district is amazing when you start to toss around these notions, and something as simple as this technology can be used to do it.  And best of all - it's free!

Of course this tool can be dangerous as well, so use would need to be heavily monitored and published so no private information is spread on the very public internet walls.  However, I believe the benefits outweigh the risks, and as long as one is aware of them, they can be taken care of before getting out of control.