The AVI CHAI Foundation is funding a cohort of technology-using teachers through its Educational Technology Experiments grants program. Grant recipients are asked to blog about their experiences as they move from proposal to implementation. The community blog can be a powerful resource. For one, it provides a “home base” for community members who are located all over North America. It also serves as a place for grant recipients to present and reflect on their work. Theoretically, the blog can help to alleviate feelings of isolation that educators might feel, especially as they take risks and try out new ideas.
There is much to glean from the grantees’ narratives. Many of them share openly about their challenges as well as their successes. It would be interesting to learn if they view themselves as members of a community of practice.
Kudos to the grant recipients for sharing their journey and to AVI CHAI for experimenting with this format!