Chris Kenniburg who is the Webmaster of the Dearborn, MI school district, reports that they’re taking the plunge into all sorts of Read/Write Web stuff with at their site. Here’s an excerpt from his e-mail:

One of the
most exciting aspects of our website for parents is the new PTSA blog/
website along with a PTSA message board. What is great about the
PTSA blog is that they can quickly post and distribute information
rapidly throughout our community. This was just launched at the
beginning of the school year and we have several parents who
contribute to the blog. It is exciting to see parents taking hold of
the technology and use it to help provide for a better education for
all students by advocating through the blog - as well as promote
activities, fundraisers, etc.

We also use RSS technology for podcasting. Our podcast incorporate
streaming video and integrate nicely by clicking “subscribe” in the
iTunes podcast directory. Currently we only podcast our Board of
Education Meetings, however, we have some ambitious high school
students who will soon be adding videos produced in a HS video
production class to the feed. They are very excited about being able
to podcast classroom video projects.

There’s other stuff too, and the podcast setup page is a nice model. We’re getting there…
—–

Our Tablet PC pilot keeps rolling along, and we’ve been collecting some regular reflections from our teachers that I thought might be interesting to share. Let me just say that personally, I think the tablet technology is potentially transformative for teachers, and as you’ll see if you read all the quotes, it’s been transformative for many here. Now I know that we are extremely fortunate to be able to test this model (Tablet PC, wireless Internet access, wireless ceiling mounted LCD projectors), and we’re hoping to expand it to most if not all faculty next year should things continue to go well. The creativity that inking allows, the “never have your back to the students” mobility that wireless connectivity allows, the abilty to save and share the work you do on the tablet, and the hand-off-ability of giving it to students to show their work renders a lot of other technologies (i.e Smart Boards) pretty irrelevant. It’s been a treat to watch.

So anyway, here are a few teacher comments, and you can read a bunch more excerpts if you like.

–To tell you the truth, I feel like I am a better teacher since I have acquired such wonderful technology.

–I love this model and can’t wait to get to class each day. It makes each lesson unique, even when I am just creating notes, or showing a PowerPoint.

–I’ve found that one of the best things about the tablet is the increase in student participation.

–I am finding that the tablet has become almost necessary in order for me to complete my lessons…Finally, I am relieved when I remember that if this model is not implemented next year, we all get to keep these awesome tools that I feel have enhanced my teaching, my organization, and most importantly, student learning in my classroom.

–Still, I am sometimes suspicious that my dear tablet is occasionally possessed by the devil (and I’m not referring to the Regan-like swiveling head)… Hall duty is paradise now instead of banishment; I must get 10x the work done. I grade and and enter into GradeQuick immediately, work on PowerPoints, research online, check my email, work with other teachers, etc. Additionally, I feel like a constant tablet commercial: everyone stops by to ask questions and ask where they can get one…Although the tablet occasionally creaks and moans and rattles, all in all it’s been a treat. I consistently feel empowered.