Read

Read.  Sounds simple.  But deciding who to read or what interests you isn't always as easy as it seems.  Another challenge is finding time to visit the blogs/websites of those people and organizations that will help you learn and grow as an educator.  I am more than happy to share some of the people that I have in my network and whose blogs I read, but ultimately, you will have to decide who and what you read.

However, I can tell you that using a tool like iGoogle or Google Reader can really help you organize your content in a convenient way.  This is where the term RSS comes in.  RSS stands for really simple syndication.  It is a way to take the blogs and websites that publish information and have it come to you.  You should be familiar with the RSS symbol on the right.  This symbol indicates that you can take the content from a blog and have it sent to an aggregator, which could be your iGoogle or Google Reader.  The aggregator is a web-based way of gaining access to content without actually having to visit the site.  This is why it is said the the content "comes to you."

As a huge fan of everything Google, I would recommend using either iGoogle or Google Reader.  I usually begin any course by having students create a Gmail account that they will use for education. The Gmail account creates a Google account that gives you easy access to the entire range of Google tools, from GoogleDocs and Spreadsheets, to Blogger, and even YouTube.  I have a video on how to create a Gmail account if you need assistance.

I also have a video on how to create and maintain an iGoogle page.  For Google Reader, here is a short video on how to use Google Reader.

Here are a few of my favorite blogs that you may want to check out and decide if they could help you:

Dangerously Irrelevant              Seth Godin's Blog                       Will Richardson

2¢ Worth                                 Free Technology for Teachers     Larry Ferlazzo's Blog

EducationRethink                     Hack Education                          Gizmodo (part education, part fun)  


Digital Discussion Forums
Digital discussion forums are social networks centered around a central topic or theme. They are different from blogs in that you become a member, create a profile, and can either share content directly to the site or simply participate in online discussions or comment on existing content.  They are great places to meet other educators interested in technology and education. Two of the forums I belong to are:

The Educator's PLN and Classroom 2.0 (see the badges in the right column)