7 Reasons Why Blogging Can Be Powerful For Student Learning

About two years ago, I began blogging with my students. The experience changed my classroom. It changed the way my students took on learning. It changed the way I took on learning and teaching those kids… you know them…  the ones who have and use technology as almost an extension of who they are.

The experience impacted all of us.
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Entering the digital world with my students felt like I just kind of slipped into their world and became a part of it. It gave me a greater opportunity to teach them how to learn good things in this digital space. This authentic use of technology helped me to better understand how to use technology in the classroom.

There are countless reasons why teachers should invite students to blog. 
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Here are seven important reasons why blogging can be powerful for student learning:  

1. It is a powerful opportunity for authentic writing and authentic audience.
2. Students can practice 21st Century skills. These skills, sometimes called the 4 C’s, are the practice of communicating, collaborating, critical thinking, and creativity.
3. It creates meaningful experiences. Learners can experience the impact of student voice, student guides, student mentors, and the benefits of immediate feedback.    
4. The environment helps to immerse students in literacy. Here, learners can continuously read, write, practice language, as well as develop digital literacy.
5. Working in digital spaces helps prepare students for future jobs and careers… even those that do not yet exist.
6. Students become better writers, because the more you do anything, the better you get at it.
7. Students can use it to reflect on what they are learning. It is a powerful tool for reflecting.

​How much of an impact did blogging make on our classroom?  Well, it turned me into a blogger. And some of my former students, two years later, continue to blog.  

Blogging in the classroom is worth the work, effort, and time.

​Invite your students to blog. Become their guide. You just might find yourself learning and growing right alongside them. It’s what happened to me. And I loved every minute of it.