Educational Blogging

This entry is a reflection on the article, Educational Blogging, by Stephen Downes. This article can be found here:

http://www.educause.edu/pub/er/erm04/erm0450.asp?bhcp=1

I was really impressed with the information that was given in Stephen Downes article, Educational Blogging. He was able to convey the impact that blogging has developed and how it has reached the mainstream.
And ultimately, how this tool is slowly being incorporated and utilize in the educational school system. The author made some really strong points on how effective this tool can be for the students and for the purpose of learning.
The effectiveness of blogging for students is that this tool allows for the student to write and share his/her opinions for the classroom and for the world to read and comment upon.
This forum allows for the students and instructor a medium to voice and comment their opinions on the material that is being taught.
But on the downside that the author also raises is that if there is censorship when blogging that places restrictions and defeats the 'spirit' in which blogging originated from. Also, when students are told what to write about without the having any interest in the material that in itself is another defeat in the spirit of blogging and becomes a laborious and tedious tasks for the student.

Overall, I feel that having the educational institutions recognize the importance and value that blogging can serve to enrich and develop the learning in students. Then I believe that that benefits outweigh the faults that blogging has.