What I didn't know about blogs

I was so excited that I actually created a weblog-with lots of blood sweat and tears that I didn't realize (being a novice techie) that the author is supposed to post material. So-here goes. Since I am new to the blogosphere, does anyone have ideas on how to use this for students in a class that is currently ongoing-with the blogger author being the teacher. Have blogs been used to post announcements, elicit anonymous comments, etc. I am not sure how a teacher can use a blog.