blogs lead the way

Like Teach42 and budtheteacher, I find myself getting really excited about technology in the classroom these days. Our school board is considering a massive shift, and our local community is greeting it with great consternation, to say the least. Through special options tax funds earmarked for educational technology, our school board is considering the purchase of laptops for every high school and middle school teacher and student in our district. Part of the plan would also include a wireless network, a network that would eventually be accessible to students at home as well as at school.

I think it's visionary, as I've stated in an earlier post, but our district feels otherwise (which I've also detailed). I won't go there again. However, what has me really excited is all the potential we have to make meaningful changes in our educational practice if the board flies in the face of public criticism and moves ahead with the proposed plan. I attended a forum for teachers only a couple of weeks ago, and I felt those first date butterflies in my stomach as I began to consider exactly how this plan could really change the way my classroom (and others of course) works.

A few days later, I met with our ILT (instructional lead teacher), and we began to map out a plan for training teachers to utilize the coming technology. She wants me to begin by introducing blogs to teachers as an easy way to create a class website. The more we talked, the more excited we both became as I explained my understanding of the potential blogs can offer, and how much greater that potential could be if every kid could be using and accessing and contributing to his/her own and others' blogs throughout the school day. We also talked about other technologies, but the ILT felt that the simplest way to get teachers who are reluctant on board would be to begin with blogs.

How great is that?