Notes from Millie D

We are here staring at the beginning of a new year but there is still some unfinished things about 2006 I would like to reflect upon.

2006 may go down as a watershed year. The true impact on “flat world” is starting to be realized. Blogging and other Web2.0 tools are bringing great minds and ideas into more of a conversation rather than a single sided conversation you might have read about in the past. These conversations are taking place with a global perspective. Who would have thought an online only conference would have taken place and been successful? The bar has definitely been set high for 2007!

DOPA appears to be dying a quiet death I don’t think this is the last we will hear about it. Every time Dateline shows a “Catching a Predator” episode the DOPA conversation will be started among politicians in the US. Hopefully politicians don’t just cast a wide blanket trying to prevent harm to our youngsters that handcuffs educators from using some great tools. 2007’s conversation may be on a local level with educators and IT coordinators trying to figure out how to marry the great web resources for students while protecting them.

2006 ended with some great conversations thanks to Worldbridges and their Webcastathon 2007 (the archive can be accessed with the link). There were lots of different conversations about a lot of different technology out there. This is a great way to start your professional development for 2007!

2007 figures to be a great year in the world of technology and education. I hope 2006 was a great year for you and that 2007 serves to be a better year.