It’s Thanksgiving 2013, a time when we give thanks for family, friends, and the richness of our lives. It’s also a time to take stock, gain perhaps a bit more insight about the quality of life, and maybe even refrain from always wishing for more.
As a teacher, 21st Century learning advocate, and educational technology enthusiast, I spend much of the year on this blog suggesting ways that families, educators, children, and certainly, my students, can strategize, enrich, and improve their digitally connected lives and, of course, learn enough to avoid potential problems.
But today is different!
We spend so much time grumbling about all the problems that arise in our digital era. So to add some extra fun to our family’s Thanksgiving 2013 celebration, here are a few special experiences and joys that the digital world has brought into my family’s life — for which I am most grateful.
I am thankful that digital life allows me to:
- stay in touch with my students and offer support when they ask for help outside of the school day;
- visit almost any library across the globe;
- communicate, almost instantly, with professional colleagues across the country and internationally when I need to solve a problem;
- track down high-quality medical information;
- connect with family members just about anytime and in moderation;
- blog and strengthen my writing skills (I’m up to four blogs…);
- work with a group of colleagues to plan a presentation at a national conference without ever leaving our offices or going to a post office or even emailing;
- see exactly where the bad traffic is and sometimes even avoid it;
- listen to classical music on almost any radio station in the world;
- plan a vacation and learn so much more about the quality of our destinations and available opportunities;
- be continually challenged to figure out new gadgets, apps, and websites;
- contribute our charitable contributions online (with ease) to organizations that focus on helping to make the world a better place;
- reconnect and build community with old friends — because I cannot see them every day;
- make new friends;
- share — pictures, videos, stories, ideas, birthdays, and so much more.
What would you include on your list?
Media! Tech! Parenting! 
A colleague of mine, who is shy about posting a blog comment, nonetheless read my post and pointed out that I left out the ease with which we are able to make online contributions — she says I am always talking about how great it is. She is right, so I have added it to the list above.