An edWeb Interview with Erin Peacock, Director of Science Education
Montgomery Township School District, Skillman, New Jersey
—Interview by Lisa Schmucki, edWeb founder

Lisa: Erin, as one of the first members of the edWeb, you and the members of the Montgomery School District are among our most active users. It's been so rewarding to hear your comments about how much you like the site. Thank you so much for taking the time for this interview so we can help other educators understand the benefits of using the edWeb.

Erin: It's a pleasure. I love the edWeb and want to help in any way to get the word out about this great new tool.

Lisa: What interested you about the edWeb when you first heard about it?

Erin: I quickly recognized that it was like a Facebook for teachers. I am familiar with many educational technology resources, but I don't know of any tool I could use to connect with others so quickly and efficiently. It's so easy to use, so friendly.

Lisa: How does the edWeb measure up against your initial expectations?

Erin: It's all that I thought it would be, if not more. It has more tools than I expected, like the polling tool which is great.

Lisa: Why is a social networking site like the edWeb appealing?

Erin: The business of education is so minute-by-minute, run by bell schedules. We deal with the needs of so many people, so many pressing demands. There is no time to think and write. I need to document the work I'm doing. It's like a diary for me in an electronic format. It's a very friendly format, like the kids have discovered.

Lisa: What do you think are the benefits of using the edWeb?

Erin: I know it's early in its development, but I can see that the edWeb can help me access the information that I need efficiently. It's already solving my internal communication needs. It's a very friendly blogging tool. I can't stress that enough. There is more than blogging, too. I'm about average in my knowledge of technology, and I'm able to fully utilize all the tools the edWeb provides.

Lisa: How are you using the edWeb?

Erin: I started a networking community for our district to discuss "assessment for learning" so we can work together to improve student motivation and learning. I've started a blog for the community where I post on a regular basis. I've invited other teachers and administrators in the district to join the community.

I also travel to a lot of conferences. When I return, I can write up the new ideas and information I've learned and easily spread those insights to others in the district. I can get their thoughts on how we can apply new ideas and strategies in our work.

When I travel, I also invite educators I meet to join our community. It opens up our dialogue to include educators who are working on similar issues all around the country. It's so beneficial to be able to stay connected to people you would normally only meet once and then lose track of. Staying connected enables us to continue the work we began at the conference and build on it over time. There's nothing else I know of that makes staying connected this easy.

Lisa: How do you like the blogging feature?

Erin: It's been great. It really helps me take time to reflect and organize my thoughts—but in a very easy way. It also ups the ante and challenges you more since everyone in the community will read the blog comments. The peer feedback is so valuable.

It's also a place where I can put all my thoughts, references, files, and links in one place. Now, when a teacher asks me where they can find some information I've mentioned, I tell them to just check my blog! It's all there like my own personal archive.

As a communication tool, it is great. Somehow blogging lends more legitimacy to the issues. It's great for reinforcement, and it's through reinforcement that we will be able to effect change.

Lisa: What kind of feedback are you getting from members of your Assessment for Learning Community?

Erin: Well, that's very interesting. Our interim superintendent, Sam Stewart, has been a big supporter of the edWeb and has been part of our community. And this spring, Earl Kim, our new superintendent, was appointed. Mr. Kim joined our Assessment for Learning Community several months before actually arriving in the district. He was able to join in our discussions, ask questions, and begin to understand the issues and workings of our district even before his arrival! We have all been impressed by his thoughtful and in-depth comments and questions. It's wonderful for us to get to "know" him a bit in this way.

I don't get as many comments as I would like from teachers in the community, but I know the community members are reading the blog because they talk about it. They'll say, "I read your post." I think they are a bit shy about making a comment, particularly knowing that the superintendents are in the community. Most of our principals and vice-principals have joined, too, because they have heard that teachers are using it to communicate about issues. I hope everyone becomes more comfortable posting comments as time goes on.

For now I'm very happy everyone is reading the blog, and it's sparking real-life conversations that would not be taking place otherwise. As more and more members of the district join our community, the word is spreading about the edWeb. It's getting buzz!

Lisa: How are you getting people in the district to join the edWeb?

Erin: For the most part, I am inviting people inside and outside the district to join the edWeb by sending them an email invitation to join our Assessment for Learning Community.

As teachers and administrators hear about our edWeb community, they are coming up to me and asking how they can join, and I'll send them an invitation.

The principals and vice-principals are asking to join because they're hearing about it from the teachers. If the teachers are talking, they want to be in on the conversation.

And you've never seen more things start happening than when the superintendent joins the blog! It's so good... so good.

Lisa: Who do you think can benefit from using the edWeb?

Erin: Everyone, at all levels. In fact, we've also been thinking about using it to connect with parents. We really need a better tool to communicate with parents about what we are trying to accomplish here at the school. We haven't tried this yet, but it's something we are interested in.

Lisa: Is there something you can say to sum up how you feel about the edWeb?

Erin: With the edWeb we can move forward faster with any initiative. I love it! I wouldn't want to live without it.

Lisa: Erin, thank you so much for your comments, and your insights on how the edWeb is helping Montgomery teachers and administrators share ideas and initiatives. I hope your perspectives will encourage other school districts to use the edWeb to foster better district-wide communication and community building.