!Introduction+and+Overview

What is a Start Page?
Start Pages have many names and titles that have changed as their nature has evolved. Formerly known as personal portals, one may also refer to them as customized homepages or new aggregators. They are considered a Web 2.0 technology replacing some of the earlier software applications such as Front Page and Dreamweaver, in that they depend on the use of numerous and various gadgets and widgets embedded into a single web page.

What is exciting for the educational community is that an educator is able to create his/her own Start Page filled with feeds that are unique to the individual or to the content matter. These pages and feeds are shared and updated all in a collaborative fashion. Not only do they feature the web feeds previously referred to here above, but they allow for real-time communication, calender updates, bookmarking, photo sharing, news headlines, the current local weather report, language translation, television and movie show times and many, many more. In fact, since they are "personalizable", they can include basically anything and everything that matters to the individual.

How can I use Start Pages in the classroom?
The rapid increase in the use of Start Pages in the educational arena is simply mind-boggling. Teachers and students alike are creating their own personal Start Page for communication feeds, social meda and other more personal interests. More and more, we are seeing the use of Start Pages for the teaching of a certain topic or a certain curriculum standard. These pages are embedded with historical feeds, current news feeds, and other pertinent information. Students are creating effective and well-drawn up Start Pages based on the content matter of their classes. They are magnificent, they are personal, they promote collaboration, and they are fun! And best of all, they are enhancing student achievement!