Using Blogs as an instructional tool

This morning's workshop assignment is to answer the question, "How do you see using blogs as an instructional tool?"
Hmmmm.... all morning we've been looking at examples of schools that use classroom blogs. Some uses were good, some bad.
The examples that impressed me were the ones that clearly focused on a topic for the students to respond to. Interestingly enough, these were authored by students in the lower elementary grades. I'm beginning to understand that inorder to properly utilize the blog in class, the key word is focus, focus, focus. Give paramaters for the students, give them what you expect as far as quality, and give them good examples of what a proper blog is.

We looked at some examples of other entries that used "creative" fonts, shortcuts for words (ie. lol, cultr). Where were the teachers who were supposed to be monitoring the entries? As a class, we decided that it was not appropriate for entries such as these to be posted.

Enough about the "looks" of the post. How could you use it? My mind has been spinning today about the possibility of using blogging in my literature class- having students comment on a certain chapter or section, then respond to each others views. I'm also beginning to see how blogging can reinforce proper writing practices instead of the email version of language that is prevelant in today's instant messaging society.

Thoughts? Ideas on other ways to use blogging in the classroom?