Spent some time surfing around looking for classroom sites on the Internet and could find surprisingly few that are current or regularly updated. And that really amazes me. Even when I talk to my colleagues about Internet use, here at one of the most wired schools in the country, here where we offer technology training consistently through the year, most of them have little to offer the conversation. They either don’t see the need, don’t have the time, or feel overwhelmed by the technology. Sure, most know how to use the ‘Net for research, and they teach basic search skills and citing and things like that. But they never seriously use it for the vast resource that it is. It’s pretty frustrating, but from the looks of things, it doesn’t seem unique.

This is such a strange time to be a teacher, because when it comes to technology, our kids know more than most of us do. Many of us are students, and our students are our teachers. Kids are so comfortable with the technology and they can manipulate it and push it to meet their needs. They have no fear of it. Teachers do. And to be honest, you do need some skill and understanding to produce a website, even though it’s getting easier by the hour.

And now we have weblogs, which make it easier still. Yes, it takes time to do this. It takes time to make the page, to update the links and homework assignments, to read what others are writing, to write with the idea of publishing. But who says that all teachers have to use it to the extent that I do? Who says that we have to do more than provide students with some space to write and get feedback? Who says we can’t start very small and work our way up as our understanding of the potential and the technology allow. I can’t imagine being a writing teacher and NOT wanting to do this. A principal and NOT wanting to carry on conversations with staff and students in this form. School newspapers NOT wanting to become more current and interesting and interactive in this format.

So where do I start…?