Blogging as a Teaching Tool

While today children are using lots of spaces to talk about anything that comes to mind I think that the sort of blogging that is being done in schools is different and highly beneficial. Let's call this second type "Educational Blogging" since the subject matter is usually focused on the lessons being discussed in the classroom. This type allows students to get away from just writing "boring" papers and really allows them to engage with the material that is being studied and an immediate reaction can be given.
In English classes the added use of RSS News feeds can be a valuable research tool that can broaden the perspective of the young Secondary school learners. This way of researching the web can eliminate some of the problems we have in deciphering the good info from the bad and can be a source of "new" info. on all subjects and can be used in all classrooms. This can be a way also to tackle some of the more controversial issues. With harder evidence and up to the minute news and other comments when using Blog Searches.
There are three hurdles here that I have found so far. One is that when a blog has a topic that may be too specific that the news media is not covering it at the moment and can leave the researcher wanting in good, and new information. Secondly, for the teacher attempting to use this technology the concern should be is adequate time being given to students to who may have none, or limited access to the web at home and may need time during school hours to adaquately search and react to the results. Lastly, I don't think that there should be a "number" of blogs required. This should be eliminated or so low that no matter how specific or general the topic that the student can meet the required posts and that the content should be what is important. Not meeting a minimum number to BS through.
All in all, this should become a highly used tool and can be yet another way for students to react and to interact with the information being taught in their secondary classrooms.