What shall we do with this web site?
By Jim Forde
The way I see it, this site is as much yours as it is mine. So, what shall we do with it? I think it is time to reassess the role of this site. Should it significantly change? Should it go away? I am totally open.
<Part of this re-examination involves me losing my old, mustache-less, image and replacing it with a recent photo. My 12 year old son, and image consultant, insisted upon this.>
Well, maybe in order to answer the above question we should review where edtechnot.com came from, and what it has done, and then you can start contacting me with ideas.
This web site was created as a reaction to the overt commercialism of the field of educational technology. I know that stuff costs money. I also know that there are tons of great hardware and software solutions that are making a difference in schools. (Don't write to me about this.) I also know that some heavily marketed "solutions" are a waste of time and money. They are simply educationally unsound. My statement from March of 2001 was:
I hope that this site will be a refreshing change from the corporate "rah-rah" associated with each new product launch.
It is also hoped that it will encourage those who are feeling battered by the increasingly trendy "techno-phobic" side of the issue.
...and I still stand by this.
My vision was of a teacher, parent or graduate student who was looking for information about educational technology and coming across my web site to encounter some unfiltered ideas. They may even read opposing views and make their own informed decisions about the use of ed tech. Simple.
Although the site has been mischaracterized as a neo-luddite resource, my bias, as a long time tech user and tech teacher, is pro-technology. I ran hypercard, internet and mindstorms clubs at my school. I did many staff development sessions on the topic and created this site out of respect for the intelligence and energy of those associated with this field.
Historically, the impetus (translation, kick in the pants) to create the site really came over dinner with Ian Jukes in Stamford, CT in the winter of 2001. He essentially said, "stop whining and make the site". So I did.
So, is this site still necessary? Is it helping anyone? Could a few minor changes to it drastically improve it? (as described in Gladwell's Tipping Points) I really need some feedback from you and am hoping that you might take a few minutes to respond or have your undergrad or grad students respond.
Anything I learn I will share with our readers in our next update. (Hopefully, next month with a feature from Ian Jukes.)
It really has been a cool ride that has allowed me to interact with many interesting people...but maybe it is time to move on?
E-mail me with your reaction.
All the best!
Jim :-)