When most books describe tools available on the internet they lead off by telling us what the tool is; Twitter is a micro-blogging platform, Pearltrees is a curation tool, Blogger is like a journal that everyone can read, and then explains how that tool is useful in a given situation. Swanson turns this around by first telling the reader the problem and then walking them through the solution, introducing tools along the way. What is really interesting however is that even though I am familiar with nearly all of the tools described in this book I was still drawn into the stories presented. It allowed me to see how others are using these tools and reflect on some of the ways I am using them.
The book is very targeted. It doesn't attempt to cover classroom tools or grading systems or classroom management techniques. It focuses on getting educators to building their own digital file of colleagues and resources that will in turn allow them to find the resources and tools that they can implement in their classroom. Because of that this book actually contains much more information than is actually contained in the 100 odd pages. Swanson was able to compress the methods it took me 3+ years to learn on my own into an easy to read and concise book well worth the time it took to read.
I am already thinking about who I will be passing this onto next. I have certain middle school principle in mind already...
You can pick up Kristen's book at Eye on Education and at Amazon (it's on Kindle too!)
