By Billye Darlene Jones EDLD 5362 Section ET8004-1B

 Online Projects 4 teachers is a website that connects educators to educators.  The purpose of Online Projects 4 Teachers is to provide a place for educators to share what is going on in their classrooms with each other.  It is part of the Ning network.  In order to become a member, one must submit a request for approval for membership into the Ning network.

 Once approved into membership of Online Projects 4 teachers, you are allowed to post information to the Forum. Forum postings may include activities that the educator is currently working on in his or her classroom. Pictures may be uploaded to the forum postings.

 Project Group membership is available to members once they have been accepted into the Bing network. Project groups focus on specific age, grade, and content areas. Ideas are shared within the groups. Collaboration with distance learners offers an opportunity to work together on joint projects.

 The final, and most valuable benefit to membership in Online Projects 4 Teachers, is the opportunity to network with other members on a one on one basis. With a membership base of 770 members, it is highly likely that valuable contacts will be made. Those contacts will be a valuable resource of fresh ideas for what works and what does not work in the classroom.

This is a wonderful website for teachers to use to exchange ideas. It can be used for online collaboration for everything from lesson plans to projects. It increases opportunities for personal growth and knowledge. It keeps teachers from having to “re-invent the wheel.” The greatest impact is the plethora of knowledge that can be shared within the membership.

 Teachers.Net is a website that is like a shopping mall for teachers. It has a link to lesson plans, chat boards, blogs, classroom projects, teaching jobs, RSS feeds, and classified advertisements. There are free downloadable items and articles for use in the classroom.

 Membership is not required by the website.  Visitors to the website may narrow the information search by grade, subject and state of origin.  Teachers may subscribe to the newsletter(s) of their choice according to a specific content level and/or interest.  All that is necessary to receive a newsletter, is a valid address.

 Live meetings are held on a regular basis. Anyone may attend. Meetings cover a wide range of topics and are of interest to educators.  Projects for all grade levels are online. These projects cover a variety of areas of interest. They were submitted by educators who used them with their students.

 Over 4,300 lesson plans covering many content areas are available online. They are available to teachers as free downloads.  Teachers may submit lessons to the website.  Teachers.Net Gazette is a monthly newsletter published on the website. It contains a collection of articles written by teachers.

Teachers.Net is a valuable resource that is open to all teachers and anyone else who may be interested in education. Since membership is not limited to “approved” personnel nor educators, the user base is much larger than a “closed” or “limited” website. Therefore, the probability of having a wider range of sharing is greater.

 I believe that using this website will encourage me to try some of the lessons that other teachers have used.  I can save time by looking through the lesson plans and online projects. I can “tweak” them, if necessary, for use with my students. I will not have to start from scratch.  I can contribute to the website by submitting lessons that I have found to be successful.

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