Ah, the Internet. A place where people from all corners of the globe can become inter-connected instantaneously. This is used to the advantage of tech savvy teachers who want to get, or stay, connected with colleagues. An excellent example of this is comes from a personal experience I had in an ACDA national choir. We were learning a piece called The Awakening, and the director pulled strings and contacted the composer, Joseph Martin. But there was a slight issue, he was nowhere near where we were! I believe he was at home, probably writing more excellent music, and we were in Chicago (by the way, he lives in Texas). So, he wanted to hear us and talk to us, but he was hundreds of miles away. But, as it turns out, that is not really an issue anymore; seeing as we got to Skype the composer of a song we were singing. He listened to us, gave us feedback, and then told us stories about how and why he wrote the piece. It's a truly inspiring and heart tugging story, but after we heard his story, you could tell, the song was completely different. After just learning and 'picking someone's brain,' I, and my friends in the choir, learned so much. And without technology, none of that would have ever happened.

Ah, the internet. A place commonly used for games, videos, pictures, and procrastinating. But there's more to it than that; it's full of resources and accessibility that can be found nowhere else. Some of these resources are, actually, quite surprising. They are called 'social networks'. These resources can be extremely useful in keeping activities organized. Seeing as nearly everyone these days has a smartphone, or access to the internet at all times, they are often the easiest way to keep or get in touch with people. That simple, yet very important, function can be extremely helpful in organizing an event. Just by making a group or event on Facebook, you can connect to every person involved in just a matter of a few key-strokes and a click, or two! This resource may have a bad rep to some people, but when used in the right way, it can be a powerful asset to any and every teacher.

Sincerely,

Cameron MichaelJames Forman