Re: Needs and Obstacles

Tony Peressini (peressin@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu)
Sat, 29 Mar 1997 09:05:46 -0600 (CST) 

Gwen,
Your "Well Connected Educator" site is valuable for exactly the reasons
that you state below. We have linked to it from our website Math Teacher
Link at
http://www-cm.math.uiuc.edu/MathLink/. Thanks for this helpful resource!
Tony Peressini 
>
>"What can we do to cultivate a willingness among educators to 
>take the time to research existing successes before dashing headlong into 
>a project? Reinventing the wheel is becoming unacceptable but still far 
>too common. Can new avenues of dissemination help to address this problem?"
>
>One thing we can do is make it easy for them. They are so busy and harried
>and really try to do the best job possible. Yet we put roadblocks in the
>way and criticize when they don't live up to our (sometimes unreasonable)
>expectations.
>
>How do they research exisiting successes?
>Where are these successes available in an easy to reach location?
>If they exist, are they written in plain English?
>
>So, here's the commercial (you knew where I was going to do this.) My NIE
>grant, The Well Connected Educator, tries to address the concerns you
>raise. We publish the successes (and problems) of educators - written by
>educators themselves. So others (as more teachers get connected) can find
>these valuable resources easily, all in one place, and in plain English -
>and adopt them, adapt them, or just understand that they too can integrate
>technology into their classrooms, etc.  
>
>We began in December and have approximately 30 articles plus columns and
>features. We have online writing coaches helping teachers write the
>articles and an editorial board for quality control. 
>
>Teachers can also get involved in conversations like this on our online
>forums and either find or enter favorite web sites for learning or
>professional development, but I think I've gone far enough with the
>commercial.
>
>Check it out at http://www.gsh.org/wce
>
>Gwen
>
>
>
>---------------------------
>Gwen Solomon, Director
>The Well Connected Educator
>837 E. Palm Drive
>Glendora, CA 91741
>818-335-6836 voice
>818-335-6846 fax
>gwen@gsn.org
>http://www.gsh.org/wce
>---------------------------
Tony Peressini                         Office Phone: (217) 333-6336
Department of Mathematics              Home Phone:   (217) 352 1687
273 Altgeld Hall                       Fax Number:   (217) 333 9576
University of Illinois
1409 West Green St.
Urbana, Illinois, 61801