Blogs as a Tool in the Classroom

I think that it is important in this day and age for art educators to remain as relevant as possible.  One of the ways that we can do this, is by advocating for our program as much as possible.  Several art teachers are catching on, and they know that the best tool for advocating is the blog.  Oh yes, the blog is a fabulous way to showcase for your parents, teachers, and other administrators all the wonderfully relevant learning going on in your classroom.  But, did you know that a blog can be so much more?  Blogs are not just tools for educators; they can function as tools for students as well. One of my favorite ways that blogs can achieve great effectiveness as a supplement to what you already do in the art room, is by providing a space for students (and parents, and teacher, and administrators, oh my!) to access resources related to what you are teaching in the classroom.  Some bloggers post instructional videos that show them demo-ing a project.  For students who miss a class or need to see the demo again, the video ensures that they receive the same instruction  and saves you the hassle of having to repeat yourself over and over again.  Blogging about what your art class is working on is also a great way to promote a positive classroom culture and to also build confidence and pride in student work.  And for older students, working with them to create their own blogs builds literacy skills, technology skills, portfolio skills and many other skills.  The payoff is rewarding for students as they gain confidence in their abilities by engaging in self-directed projects. Finally, the most transformative aspect of blogging about your art program is the opportunity to share your student's work with a world audience. If you haven't considered blogging about your art classroom, art ed philosophy, program, etc. in the future, take a moment to imagine the ways a blog could enrich your students experience with art. It might be worth it!