Over the past few years, I have been trying to understand the concept of 21st Century Literacy. I am interested in technology, but adamant in my belief that any tool must be used in authentic ways. To use technology for the sake of technology serves no purpose for our students. I am working to understand how new technological tools might impact our classrooms, especially in the area of literacy.

One of the things I love about the web is the way in which it connects groups of people who would not have otherwise connected. It has given us a wonderful opportunity to create our own learning networks - to find people outside of our usual learning circles whom we can learn from and who can push our thinking. I feel lucky to have found many people over the past year who share their expertise on personal blogs and websites. I think the biggest gift of this new technology is the way in which it allows people with different expertise to come together and share thinking.

I want to share the sites I have learned the most from so that you can begin to build your own network of blogs with a school literacy/technology focus that are worth visiting often. Each of these bloggers has their own network of favorite blogs, and the threads of different communities spin out from each site as visitors follow the links on them. I have no idea where their links will take you, but I suspect you will enjoy the journey.

My list is constantly growing and changing, as I'm sure yours is too as you explore. But these sites provide a starting point for anyone who is beginning the journey that I've been on - to find the best thinking on the web about 21st Century Literacy.

Always Learning http://mscofino.edublogs.org/ is a blog written by Kim Cofino. Kim is a 21st Century Literacy Specialist at the International School Bangkok in Thailand. Her blog is filled with information on the work she does with teachers and students. She also shares her creative and thoughtful presentations on literacy and technology.

One of the schools that I love to read about is the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia. The founding principal, Chris Lehman, has a blog called Practical Theory http://www.practicaltheory.org/serendipity/. From an interview for Scholastic Adminstrator (http://www.practicaltheory.org/serendipity/index.php?/archives/1176-Interview-on-ScholasticAdministrator.com.html), I learned that the school is based on concepts of inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation and reflection. Lehman uses his blog to share his thinking about many issues surrounding education, as well as the work specific to the Academy.

Tim Tyson's blog Practical Practice http://drtimtyson.com/blog/ is one that is packed with practical information for classroom teachers. Dr. Tyson was the principal of Mabry Middle School, and believes strongly in kids' use of technology to make the world a better place.

Bud Hunt of Bud the Teacher http://budtheteacher.com/blog/is an instructional technologist for the St. Vrain Valley School District in Colorado. He is a former high school Language Arts/Journalism teacher. Bud the Teacher was one of the first "tech blogs" that I followed because of Bud Hunt's comprehensive understanding of literacy. His daily work with students and teachers as well as his own learning are all part of his insightful blog posts.

Kevin's Meandering Mind (http://dogtrax.edublogs.org/) is another blog that I follow. Kevin is the coauthor of the new book Teaching the New Writing. Kevin is active in the National Writing Project, and uses his blog to share projects that he does with his upper elementary students. Kevin has great examples of digital storytelling. A key to his success is that he tries so many of the projects himself to inform his teaching and energize his students.

Will Richardson who writes the blog, Weblogg-ed http://weblogg-ed.com/, is the author of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Web Tools for the Classroom. His work focuses on authentic uses of technology in the classroom. He helps teachers think through the reasons that we use new tools, and the ways that people use the tools in the world beyond the classroom.

The Fischbowl http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/ was one of the first "tech" blogs that I discovered. Karl Fisch is the creator of the infamous Did You Know/Shift Happens video (if you haven't seen it, it is a must-see video - http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2007/06/did-you-know-20.html). Karl Fisch is currently the Director of Technology at Arapahoe High School in Colorado. His blog shares the things going on in his school as well as his thinking about some important issues related to technology in education. He has a deep understanding of how new technologies are changing the world we live in, and works to support teachers in using these new tools effectively.

Angela Meiers http://www.angelamaiers.com/presentations/ combines her understanding of elementary literacy instruction with her expertise in 21st Century Literacy. Her website is filled with her thinking, videotapes of her lessons, lists of resources, and issues to think about. Angela is also the author of Classroom Habitudes, which focuses on critical thinking and habits of mind.

I was fortunate to hear Wesley Fryer at a conference in Ohio this winter. His blog, is called Moving at the Speed of Creativity - http://www.speedofcreativity.org/ . Fryer is a former elementary teacher who now works as a digital learning consultant. This blog is packed with information about technology tools as well as Fryer's reflections on school practice. His stories include those of schools and those of his own children's learning.

Bill Bass at Mr. Bass Online http://blog.mrbassonline.com/ is a Technology Integration Specialist in St. Louis Missouri. His blog shares much of the work that he does in his district - helping teachers integrate technology into the curriculum, as well as his own unique take on literacy and technology.

Frank Baker writes for the NCTE Assembly of Media Arts blog (http://ncte-ama.blogspot.com/). This blog focuses on all things dealing with media literacy. Topics include film, social networking, texting and more. Baker shares many resources that are helpful for teachers.

These bloggers have helped me get my arms around the new opportunities that the tools of technology provide. They share terrific uses of technology, with their beliefs about literacy at the core of their work. They know and understand that inquiry, creativity and communication need to be at the heart of literacy in any form, and that our uses of technology must align with our understandings about how people learn.