I'm worried - are you?

jetech's post has reinforced my concerns. I started this project about 15 years ago. I believed then, and I believe now, that project like this create a larger stage for our students learning. I think it is important to involve our kids in projects bigger than our classroom. It helps us all develop a larger, world view.

In the first several years of the project, I conducted an active teacher listserv. We talked to one another and shared ideas, successes, and concerns about the project. Over the last 3 or 4 years, I began to get more and more complaints about the listserv (too much mail, it exposed participants to spam, etc.). So, I thought I'd try a safe, moderated blog, rather than a listserv, for our discussion this year. That would eliminate spam and excessive e-mail, I thought.

However, this blog feels pretty sterile to me. And the Postcard Geography project seems to have no life. I don't know whether a project like this can survive in today's spam-riddled internet environment, but I do know that if we don't talk to one another we are engaged in "parallel play" - not collaborative work.

So... are other classrooms experiencing a disappointing response from the project? Does anyone else feel the loss of community that I am feeling?

Speak up, please. Your feedback and suggestions are truly being sought. Let's see if we can breathe some life back into what could be a thriving project.

Wishing you all the happiest of holiday seasons...

Leni

P.S. I have received MANY beautiful cards, however, and thank each and every one of you who have sent one my way (snail mail and e-mail).