As I visit schools and talk to educators every day, I am reminded of Marc Prensky's concepts of digital natives (most kids) and digital immigrants (most teachers, including me). See Marc's descriptions attached below.

As an educational leader, I'm not comfortable with my digital immigrant status. But I'm no native either. I wonder if the length of my career and the length of my learning curve make it nearly impossible for me to be an effective educational leader. I'm convinced by everything I see and read that the learning tools kids use in school are very different from the ones they will need to use in order to succeed outside of school. As a student says in the popular "Pay Attention" video , " When I go to school I have to power down".

I have more questions than answers about the role of digital media and web2.0 applications in our classrooms. I don't have it figured out, but I worry that traditional "bricks and mortar" schools will soon be obsolete unless educators start living in the same world where our students reside. And I believe that our students, our communities and our country need a strong, viable system of public schools. The idea of a free and public education for all children is still rather revolutionary, and it is responsible for much of our nation's success.

In the public schools of Waynesboro, we have talented teachers and our kids are doing well by 20th century standards. But the 20th century is over. I would not ask these amazing teachers to jump off some digital cliff with me, abandoning the powerful tools they use that are working. However, I would ask that we take a small hop together off the end of the diving board. I'll be asking teachers and coaches to share their stories, their questions, and their struggles here. I certainly invite all of you into the conversation. I can't recreate my (old) self as a digital native. But with the help of my colleagues, I can at least learn to speak the language.

Hope you will check out the new Virginia site on iTunesU. Among other things you can download for free are a 5-part virtual field trip to Jamestown, several ideas and examples for using wireless mobile technologies (such as the iTouch or handheld GPS) in teaching, and 32 video clips on teaching topics in middle school math. Have fun exploring. So..... speaking of teaching and learning in the 21st century (which by the way is 10% over now), what's on YOUR mind?