School administrators and teachers alike, can find real value in creating an iGoogle homepage. First, it provides those unfamiliar with Web 2.0 an opportunity to jump in and get a taste of its true power. Second, it provides a professional dashboard through which a wealth of relevant information can be tapped.iGoogle is, quite simply, a customizable homepage. It can be set as the page that opens each time you launch Google, which, in turn, can be set as your browser homepage (my preference). You'll need to create a Google account...it is free and gives you access to tons of other options...and it only takes a minute. Once created, you can customize your page by choosing, and arranging, Gadgets. Gadgets are scaled-down applications, and there are thousands to choose from. There are Gadgets for weather, YouTube, Wikipedia, and the top news stories from CNN.
Your Google account also gives you access to Google Reader...an RSS news aggregator that collects content from your favorite professional journals, e-magazines, blogs, and other publications. Seeking out good articles relevant to your line of work just got a lot easier: just identify the sources, and let it come to you....for free. Just about every major publication related to K-12 instruction has the ability to feed content to your reader. And yes, there is a Gadget for Google Reader as well.
The last item I'll mention is Twitter. Used as a conduit for connecting with professionals in your field, Twitter is amazing. While the tool started as a way for people to stay connected by answering the question (in 140 characters or less), "What are you doing?", it is now utilized by many as a platform to engage in professional connections. Consider creating a Twitter account to follow standouts in the field of k-12 education, authors, technologists, and others. You'll be amazed how much you learn, and how quickly you are connected with other professionals and relevant content from blogs, journals, and more. Place the Twitter Gadget on your iGoogle homepage and you now have the beginnings of a one-stop portal into your profession.
The following Gadgets can be found on my iGoogle: Twitter, Google Reader, Google Bookmarks, Blogger (to post to this blog), CNN, weather, Google Maps, Wikipedia, Calculator, People Search, YouTube, and Places to See (this one rotates different pictures from around the world throughout the day). There are lots more too...please share your favorites.
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