THE TeachNet PROJECT: TEACHER PROFESSIONAL 
DEVELOPMENT GOES ONLINE Teachers are fed up with the one-stop workshop approach to professional development, but most have few alternatives. However, a new-and asynchronous-way of networking with and learning from experienced peers is being developed by Teachers Network, a nationwide, non-profit organization that has been working for more than 20 years to support and connect innovative teachers through grants and networking opportunities in the areas of curriculum, leadership, policy, and new media.
The TeachNet Project, currently underway in New York, Boston, Miami, Chicago, as well as overseas in Ireland and in the United Kingdom, seeks to build a virtual community of teachers sharing best practices to improve student learning. Experienced, computer-savvy teachers serve as "Web mentors" to help other teachers learn to develop and publish curriculum units using Web-based learning. 
In addition, several TeachNet Project curriculum units can be seen "in action" in a series of streaming video short films for teachers, available on the Teachers Network web site, http://teachersnetwork.org. These films serve as models of best practices and vividly illustrate how much students gain from creative, engaging curriculum and committed teachers. A presentation on TeachNet and the use of streaming video as a new means for delivering professional development will be led by Teachers Network President and CEO Ellen Dempsey at the Conference Board's annual "Business and Education 2001 Conference," to be held May 10-11 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.

For more information, visit http://teachersnetwork.org.