I use two sites personally to keep me up to date. The first is classroom
2.0 on Ning (classroom20.ning.com). I really like Ning for networking.
It's easy to set up and easy to use, and you can get as much or as little
as you want. I could really see the NIFL lists going in this direction at
some point. 

It's easy to start a discussion, and easy to find one that you're
interested in, and the discussions are archived there and easy to find. It
also allows file sharing, media sharing, and "friending," which is nice if
you are looking for people interested in a particular topic that might not
be generally discussed. If I have time (which is pretty much never) I hang
out there, but mostly I go there if I have a particular question. If I
participate in a discussion, then posts to that discussion are emailed me,
although you have control over that.

My example above is about technology, but there are many Ning communities
on other education topics. For example, the Mexico English Teachers'
Alliance is here http://metamexico.ning.com/. Someone in the US could do
the same, and maybe they already have.

I'm really thinking about creating a Ning site for adult educators in
California, but we're going to do a wiki first.

The other site that supports my professional development is Twitter
(http://twitter.com). That might sound crazy, but seriously, I get a lot
of new information from the twitterverse. I follow other people who are
using technology in education, my field, and they post new tools, blog
posts, articles, general information that is relevant to me, and so I get
very fresh information. For example, I just checked the site, and a
message was posted about spellr.us, a site that will check your web site
for spelling errors. It's just in beta now, but I will get one of the 150
private invites because I saw the link on Twitter.

I would really love it if more adult ed people were on twitter! I'm
mthacher if you want to follow me.

Marian
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marian Thacher, OTAN
P.O. Box 269003
Sacramento, CA 95826-9003
(916) 228-2597
www.otan.us
The Technology and Literacy Discussion List <technology at nifl.gov> on
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 10:00 AM -0700 wrote:

>Hi all,

>I’m doing some research and would like your input.

>What technology resources (sites, tools, learning communities) do you use

>Wthat supports you (or your program staff) in your own professional

>develospment as educators? What do you think is the value of these

>resourcpes and how have they helped you? 

>I know a number of the folks on this list attended or presented at

>confereances this season did you see any thing on this topic that you can

>cshare?

> 

>All the best,

>Mariann

> 

> 

>Mariann Fedele

>Director,

>NYC Regional Adult Education Network

>Literacy Assistance Center

>

>Moderator,

>NIFL Technology and Literacy Discussion List

>32 Broadway 10th Floor

>New York, New York 10004

>212-803-3325

>[ mailto:mariannf at lacnyc.org ]mariannf at lacnyc.org

>[ http://www.lacnyc.org ]www.lacnyc.org

> 

>----------------------------------------------------

>National Institute for Literacy

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