Traveloteacher

I'm doing the final preparations for the trip to Cape Town. My level of excitement is at 10!

I just received an e-mail from a student of mine with a link to the Map of Online Communities . He writes: "First of all, I know how interested you are in many creative and interactive internet sites and perhaps you just might use any of 'countries' in your future projects with your future classes or even us, but what really caught my eye was a country named Ning. That brought back the memories. Best ones, of course!" This is what makes teaching with tech worthwhile.

This is the second year that I'm blogging with my students. Last year I introduced my 17-year olds to blogging the moment I learned how to do it. Or at least I thought I knew how to blog with students. This year, I started out thoroughly prepared. Well aware of last year's weaknesses and strengths, I clearly defined the goals and strategies. I put together a clear and meaningful Power Point presentation. I thought long and hard about possible threats. And was convinced there would be nothing to catch me off guard. How wrong I was! There's always been something I took for granted and expected my students to know. But it turns out that most of them don't go beyond the basics of Facebook and MSN. And when it comes to blogging they rely entirely on me. Maybe it's time I said "Go figure it out yourself!" Next year I'll do it differently.

I'm an Innovative Educator and I'm going to Cape Town! What a respectable siganture! I still can't believe that I'm one of those who will have the opportunity to meet innovative educators from all over the world. What's more, I'm one of them! What have I done to deserve this? I just came up with an idea - and these fabulous teachers were kind enough to join me with their students. They are Innovative Educators and I wish they all went to Cape Town with me! Viviana Alayo , Colegio Machado de Assis, Joinville, Brazil Candace Townsley , Owasso Public School, Owasso, Oklahoma, USA Valerie Burton , West Jefferson School, Harvey, Lousiana, USA Dan Roberts , Saltash Community Schools, Saltash, UK Eva Büyüksimkeşyan and Culya Yapici , Esayan Armenian High School, Istanbul, Turkey José Romão ,Colegio de Alfragide, Alfragide, Portugal Clara Vieira , Escola EB 2,3/S de Vale de Cambra, Portugal Monika Hardy ,Thompson Valley HS, Loveland, Colorado, USA Shannon McClintock...