I listened to Madeline's webcast.  I have lots of thoughts about this work but I'm not doing any of it with students or teachers so I don't know how valuable they (my thoughts) are.  I am pleased to see how much work is beginning to happen on the web.  In preparing for the NWP presentation - the annual meeting of the National Writing Project that will happen November 17 in Nashville, Tennessee - I am reminded of how long we (the New York City Writing Project) have been developing this work in technology.  There are lots of questions about why things are beginning to take off now and why it hadn't happened sooner.  Part of the answer, I am sure has to do with the times and generally how teachers are more comfortable with the technology themselves.  It also has to do with how much we've developed, as a site and individually, in our thinking about technology. 

As an example, Paul is adding a lot more commentary to the work that he does, both with the TCs/teachers that he invites to join his webcasts, and with students.  He is beginning to introduce material and provide some context which makes it easier for people to connect to.  

I also came to the realization that this is what hasn't been working for me in the social networking sense of blogging.  The random and loosely connected links to various blogs doesn't do it for me.  I need that analysis and synthesis - something that pulls it all together.  I understand that tags are supposed to do some of that, but tagging is not a simple skill.  It's like deciding in which draw to file a critical article.  Yes, tagging does allow cross referencing, but if you don't chose the same words as others who are writing about similar ideas, they you never connect.  Or, you make connections that are only tangential and don't lead you to what might be most useful.

So, now how do I tag this entry?