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=The Email Quandry=

As the variety and quality of online resources continue to grow, schools scramble to keep up with the blindingly rapid pace of change. Schools are charged with the task of fostering education in a digital age, while simultaneously evaluating and monitoring the appropriate use of digital resources. Despite the push to quickly change and adjust to the demands of technology, schools must consider all the ramifications of doing so, including: time, cost, effectiveness, and discipline concerns.

A culture of instant gratification has emerged in the digital age which demands open and reliable communication. Email is one form of communication used by both students and teachers. However, many web 2.0 resources have also embraced email as a necessary basis of an interactive membership, while also using it as a means to maintain information security. In a way, having an email account has become the passport to web 2.0.

It is common and expected for schools to provide email accounts to teachers since they have a sincere need to communicate with colleagues, parents, and occasionally students. Since students often have their own, private email accounts for their own //private// uses, districts are normally not willing to provide students with schoolwide email accounts. Furthermore, in lieu of increasing problems with cyber-bullying and other possible inappropriate communication, administrations are unwilling to invest money and resources needed to ensure appropriate use of email. Therein lies the rub: the costs of a sufficient email application need to be justified by measurable benefits.