Disadvantages of Using Blogs

As with most social media, blogs may present problems for both instructors and students.  Therefore, instructors need to take care to consider some of the following problems when integrating blogs into the classroom:

1). Security, privacy, and access of information may cause problems for student.
2). Informal nature of blogs may not foster deeper meaning and critical reflection.
3). Blog themes may segregate by gender (men tend to write editorial and technical blogs, while women write personal blog).
4.) Students may not want to learn another technology.
5.) If not specific with instructions, blogs don't foster much interaction.
6). Blogs are usually opinion-based, so students have a difficult time distinguishing between high-quality and poorly researched blogs.
7). Can be time consuming because of aggregation (RSS)
8). Published immediately, may get an immediate response

With careful assignment construction, instructors can overcome many of the problems that blogs can present.  Three main areas may need thorough consideration, however, before students are given the green light to blog:

Security Issues: Close Community

Access: Permission Rights

Free Expression Conflicts: Defamation, Libel, Infringement

SOURCE: Trimarco, Ruth.  The Use of Blogs in the College Classroom.