Andrew
Thanks for the invite and comments. This is really new to me and I like your blog. I'll be back to read some more. I've seen the question about the best tool for web 2.0 implementation. I've been giving it some thought, however I ruled out the hardware things like laptops, and I guess that rules out cell phones for me also. If I had only one online tool, I'd pick the wiki. I think you can do just about all the things the other ones do on a wiki. Collaboration, writing, blogging, researching, posting comments, all can be done on a wiki. I wouldn't die on the wiki hill, but it's my choice today at least. Look forward to more conversations in the future.
Dave

Thanks for asking.

The newsletter is published at the end of every month.

http://www.classroomtoolkit.net/serendipity

The nine sections are more like a magazine.

If you would like to contribute articles, I would be glad for you to publish them under your by line. (You retain all copyrights.)

But, check out the content of the newsletter to determine if associating with this newsletter would be good for your consulting business.

I planned to work as a consultant after retiring.

I thought that a "Tell it like it is" newsletter would demonstrate my insight into what has to be done to improve and reform our educational system.

Lately, I've been considering marketing "What they want to hear" materials as a more popular and more lucrative strategy.

Right now I am publishing a special report on marketing for Open Source solutions for the Strategic Open Source, Special Interest Group (SOS SIG) of the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA).

Check out...

http://classroomtoolkit.ning.com

over the next few days for some insights. Since you don't seem to be promoting Open Source software, you probably won't feel threatened.

I explain the challenges faced in promoting Open Source software in our schools, and I identify what the organization has to do to market Open Source products.

I also point out how the organization has to distance itself from the failed "Technology Integration" movement, and how any marketing must be for an educational solution, rather than for "free and cheap" software.

Unfortunately, the answer for what this organization has to do to become successful in building a program that impacts education seems to be the same strategy that school districts need to adopt to mend their ways, i.e., change.

The common denominators seem to be...

* Respect the talents and abilities of everyone, especially our students and teachers
* Honor the wisdom and insights of people on the bottom, as well as the top of the 'Chain of Command"
* Trust in the abilities of our students and our teachers
* Trust in the capacity of honest and open (transparent) dialog to identify the required steps needed for improvement
* Make the folks at the bottom, i.e., students and teacher, full partners in the teaching and learning process

I believe that every solution must be individually and uniquely crafted because "no two implementation are the same."

I also believe that planning and project management of educational initiatives must be adequately funded, and that expecting mediocre funding of improvement projects to yield stellar results is folly.

So, "cookie cutter" reform, the most popular kind, remains largely ineffective...a money-leaking drain on our schools.

In fact, "Cookie Cutter Reform" will be the subject of an upcoming newsletter article.

Thanks again for asking.

Andrew,
I'm very interested in your Living Textbook ideas; very, very thought-provoking.

Thanks, Andrew, I hope it wasn't too long & tedious . . . ;)

Hello Andrew,
I just discovered your Current Events Blog... Brilliant!

I will be passing this on to some teachers at my school. Thanks!

Hi Andrew,
I added your 'The Current Events in Education'
widget to the new Ning network FieldFindr
http://fieldfindr.ning.com/
Hope that is all right with you,
Dave

Thanks for the interview and the blog post Andrew !

Regards !
Rich
@ http://rich.greenbush.us

Yes, collaborative lesson planning could working using Ning!

Andy-
In response to your comment on my video:
I just uploaded an audio podcast to my classroom 2.0 blog here: http://www.classroom20.com/profiles/blog/show?id=649749%3ABlogPost%3A67290
Let me know if something like that would be appropriate for a guest blog on your classroom20blog-
thanks
-Ken

Thanks Andy
Happy to be here :-)

Andrew, I noticed that you might be presenting about blogging at the CR2.0. Will this be about student or teacher blogging?

Sounds like a good idea, I'll take a look-see. N

I live in Los Angeles - see you at CUE in Palm Springs?

Andrew,

Thanks for telling me about the new site. I'll check it out.

Larry

Hello Andy,

Yes, I went to UM and didn't want to leave Ann Arbor. I taught at Dexter High School, just west of Ann Arbor.

Is your company tied to a line of textbooks, or do you provide curriculum for entire subject categories? In other words, who do you service? Entire districts or particular subject areas?

I think it is a great idea to offer it. So many people can't afford to go to MACUL this year as districts have cur back on funding!

I am planning on bringing my OLPC and seeing if there is anyone else out there with one. would love to try out the Mess network!

I won one of the Michigan Champions Grants so I will be staying at the Radison Thursday night with fellow teachers. Is there are pre-conference evening planned this year? That might be a great place for people to meet.

It is exciting, I teach in a special ed program for gifted students and have many of them for 4-5 years in a row while they are in elementary schools. I usually don't hear a word when they go to middle school but then they seek me out in high school or college. I've even heard from some of my "old" kids, like Julie, who are close to 30.

Hi Andrew! I checked out your living textbook and I love it. It is exactly what students need today! I agree completely that you can't know what is going to be in it until the issues and topics develop! If you get a chance, check out my site at SEEdebate.org - it is a current events discussion website that gets students talking about international news. It seems that our ideas compliment each other!

Hi Andrew, I am interested in doing some work on 2.0 tools. I am in Chicago and I work in an elementary school that has experienced a technology explosion in the past year. I really enjoy being a pioneer and would love to help out.

Hi Andrew,

If the work can be done remotely, and by a Canadian, I would be interested in hearing more about your project. I am an Educator in the TDSB, specializing in science and technology. I integrate several different social media tools into my curriculum.

Please feel free to contact me through my page if you think I would be suitable.

Regards,

Drew

Hi Andrew. I was wondering if you have students or educator friends who would be interested in participating in a nationwide SAT Vocab Video Contest @ MIT university. You can view contest details at BrainyFlix.com Please let me know. Thanks!