I have used blogs in courses I have taught before. I used it as a location for students to interact while writing about prompts I gave. The purpose was to get them talking with each other about biological concepts. The blog would enhance the lesson by allowing communication outside of the classroom and allow longer time to process the writing prompts. I teach 9-10 graders in biology. I believe blogging will allow students to think deeper about the course content and interact with students other than those they regularly do in class.
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I also teach Biology and when I was trying to think about how blogging could be effective, I was only thinking about doing it during class. I am glad that I read your post becuase it has reminded me that the blogging does not need to be done at specific times. Kids can be learning anywhere and anytime.
To t_herm:
Were the blogs that you set up behind a firewall or were they in the public domain?
Have you thought about using a threaded discussion board for having students discuss? I like the idea of allowing them more time to process the writing prompts. As an English teacher I am amazed at how the kids struggle to understand the prompts that teachers give them. I would recommend that you post, somewhere on the blog, a model for students to follow as well as an explanation of some of the words in the prompt that tell the students what they are supposed to be answering. Teachers often make the mistake of assuming that students know what the words "analyze" or "synthesize" mean. Often times a student's failure to answer the prompt is related to them not understanding the directing words in the prompt.
It is great that you incorporate writing into your science classroom as an essential skill.
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