The Will Richardson Project: Building a Web Presence

For my professional development goals as an instructional specialist and future school administrator, I am reading a few articles by Will Richardson and posting my thoughts here. Feel free to join the conversation in the comments. Building a Web presence: Weblogs are becoming essential in school districts across the country. District Administration - May 1, 2007

Summary: Schools, like almost any organization or enterprise these days, have to play an active role in their online presence. The best and most useful way to do this is to provide opportunities for students and teachers to write blogs, post videos, or record podcasts to be shared over the Internet. Schools need to make these sorts of networks accessible as well as teach students how to best utilize Web 2.0 tools in order to improve their web presence.
(Link to Example Class Blog)


What I Think: I am a big fan of this idea. Schools feel so helpless with all the bad press they receive. Google your local elementary and you're just as likely to come up with a site for parents to rate your school as you are to find the school's official web page. I say beat them to the punch. Encourage students and teachers to publish all over the place. Teach students the best ways to communicate, collaborate, and advocate for themselves and their educations online.


How does this help me with my work? I work with a lot of teachers who are very concerned with perceived risks and dangers associated with Web 2.0. On top of that, their administrators and techs block most blog, podcast, and video-hosting sites. Richardson' argument of taking control of a school's online presence just gives me another avenue in trying to change minds about Web 2.0 in schools.