Why Am I Here?

Back in 1991 or so, I discovered a little piece of what would soon become the world wide web. My ISP was essentially an e-mail server with instant messaging capability, and I loved it. This, I thought, will be an outstanding avenue to bring back the art of letter writing. I soon discovered that I was relatively alone in that interpretation of the possibilities of electronic communication. Rather than promoting genuine human exchange, it dealt a nearly lethal blow to the art of the letter. Suddenly the world was using minimal language and a host of emerging acronyms to convey tersely stated bits of information, the latest storyline from last night's sitcom, and endless jokes. The first time one of my students used the number "2" instead of the word "to" in an essay, I knew my dream for the future of electronic communication was dying on the vine.

The emergence of the blog has given me new hope for the written word. The educational community is embracing the blog as an avenue to bring back genuine writing in the classroom, and the world at large. Today, I am taking my first baby steps to release the writer within and lead my students and peers by example.

My blog will reflect my educational philosophy and provide a platform from which I will share my thoughts on teaching and learning in the 21st century. It is my hope that many will find my words thought-provoking, enlightening, and perhaps even entertaining.