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This advanced technology is free or inexpensive for computer users with access to microphones, video cameras and Internet. Additional uses for partnerships include:

• Conducting team collaboration across two locations
• Hosting a remote guest speaker
• Conducting personnel interviews
• Reporting current educational research

Partnering members can access web conferencing in multiple ways depending on the particular situation. Skype offers free web conferencing if participants use http://skype.com

Webpage or website

Most school districts have websites describing their schools with mission and vision statements. Most sites include a calendar of events, highlights of the past year and directions on how to get in contact with the membership. It is also a place to inform the public of any partnerships that have been formed or upcoming meeting invitations. In some cases, school site councils have invited universities to present their current research and open the meetings to the public.

There are a number of Internet sites that will provide faculty and students with free electronic space for meetings and projects. Over the past few years the webpage has been replaced by other social media sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. These media meet the Net Gener’s need for instant feedback and cyber interaction.

Blog

A blog is an abbreviated term for ‘web log”. It is text-based, and an ongoing commentary of information. The responses are displayed in reverse chronological order with the most recent information posted first. The blog may include:

• Announcements
• Reports
• Shared reflections
• Discussion topics
• Posting of a professional challenge
• Inviting collaborative solutions to current issues.

There are free Internet sites available to faculty for setting up a blog. They are easy to use by both faculty and students. One free website is (External Link) .

Podcast

A podcast is “audio content” made available to the user on the Internet. Participants can use their computers, and/or other devices including iPods and MP3players. Listeners can access the audio content at their convenience. Uses of podcasts include:

• Audio communication to students, staff and community
• Standard messages, directions or welcome announcements
• Short staff development audio trainings
• Audio summary of procedure, new laws, or new information.

There are several free podcast websites available to faculty. One such website is (External Link) .

Electronic portfolio

Our schools and universities rely on accreditation for their survival. Agencies such as the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) look for documentation that demonstrates collaboration, transparency and shared governance. The electronic portfolio is one way to capture the district, school or university activities in this area. Specifically, electronic portfolios may include:

• Minutes made by partnership committees
• Advisor committee meeting minutes
• Documents
• Resumes
• Videos
• WebPages

The electronic portfolio is an easy way to capture and document the agency’s activities and supports the assessment of their programs. It is one of the best options for storage, editing, retrieval and sharing of information (Orozco, 1999).