I have been doing a lot of reading on DOPA in the past few days from a variety of blogs – see my blog list – almost everyone has written on it. I believe, as most, that it is not well thought out, and is not going to help schools, kids and teachers get on with the real job of learning. But in my reality of supporting teachers in using technology to foster student learning, DOPA right now has little impact. Many teachers do not know what a blog or wiki is, therefore DOPA has little meaning to them. Many are struggling to wrap themselves in the standards and find a way to improve test scores, not necessarily student learning (see Wesley Fryer’s post). I feel I can best help the situation by helping teachers understand these new tools, and to discover the potential they have to provide a positive impact on learning. I can continue to talk to the “powers that be” about the tools and their uses. To address safety concerns and allay fears. In my work we plan on offering FYI sessions to staff and teachers at all levels on Web 2.0 tools with a focus on personal/professional use. We hope that as they become more familiar with the tools they will migrate them into the classroom. We also are making a big push for Moodle as a classroom extension. Though I feel the upset over DOPA that others have expressed and have written my congressmen and senators, I can do little right now except to educate people about the tools and their potential. It is ignorance that got us into this position and I believe education and understanding will get us out.