Being an avid online journaler for over ten years, the benefits of using a blog in the classroom are seemingly endless, with the pros outweighing the cons. It's a concise way to outline what the year will look like, dive deeper into subjects and their assignments, make "personal" goals for the class and discuss a variety of topics.
Blogs can successfully model web 2.0 by having students comment on posts rather than simply read. It's a perfect way to keep track of expectations and rubrics for students who are prone to misplacing papers (ahem, I was and still am that kind of student). For those parents who might be hesitant to show up to the school barbeque, a classroom blog is a perfect way for parents to see what their students are learning, what homework is due (if updated regularly), and hopefully establish a connection between the teacher and parent.
Of course, there's the cons of: (a) will the blog be updated regularly or be left by the wayside [kind of like this one was], which is why it should be introduced as early as possible; (b) will students really have access to it, particularly if they don't have a home computer? Those are the two major ones that come to mind, though I'm sure there are a few more.
Honestly though, the greatest benefit for me would be that it would chronicle my teaching journey: where my classes have been and where they are going, to see what worked and what needs to be improved on, and to truly utilize TPACK throughout my future career.
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