Editorial Note:  A special post from Al Browne, national director & vice president, education and technology for Verizon Corporate Foundation.

A special thank you to all of the members of the Verizon Thinkfinity Community ––  the insights, contributions and success stories highlight the strength and significance of over 40,000 members dedicated to moving education forward ––  proving to be an invaluable asset to the education community!

My wish in 2012 is to tap the potential of students around the world by using Verizon's technology and innovation to inspire teachers to embrace the power of technology in the classroom. I am so proud and honored to be a part of Verizon's efforts to improve education and look forward to building a community that is the destination for professionals to share, engage and find new ways to enhance education.  Here's a look at the Thinkfinity Community highlights of 2011 as well as things to look forward to in 2012 as we enhance the Thinkfinity Community.

2011

• Thinkfinity Education Speaker Series –– speakers ranging from Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to Jason Fall to Earvin "Magic" Johson share their passion for education through on-demand video interviews with over 17,000 members participating in just three months.  Special thanks to guest interviewers Michelle Shearer and Michael Koren –– both honored teachers of the year for 2011. Your dedication to innovative teaching strategies and inspiring students is invaluable.
• New Thinkfinity Community app for iPhone and Android mobile devices –– engage from anywhere, anytime.
• Share topics, follow daily posts and more when you connect via Facebook and Twitter.
• Over 1/2 million Thinkfinity Community visitors experienced the discussions, blogs and groups dedicated to the hottest topics in education.
• Engaging discussions from Best Education Apps to Favorite online "cool" tools for teaching; highlighting innovative ways technology is used in the classroom.
• Platform to directly exchange thoughts and ideas with the Thinkfinity Content Partners; 26 million visitors, annually, to Thinkfinity consortium of websites.

As the Verizon Foundation looks to 2012, expect to see another great list of guest speakers for the Thinkfinity Education Speaker Series, expanded Community membership that includes colleges and universities and the hottest news in education that is shared through engaging discussions, blogs and specialized groups.

Now that we shared a few thoughts about new items for 2012, we would like to know what else you would like to see as part of the Thinkfinity Community.  It might be something as simple as additional groups or as exciting as a new video chat feature.  Participate in our online polls to share your thoughts: What is your most desired new tool for the Thinkfinity Community in 2012?  and What topic would you like to hear more about in Thinkfinity Community in 2012? We want to hear from you!

In 2012 you open another book. Its pages are blank. You are going to put words on them yourself. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day - write it the way you would like it read back to you -- write it the way you would like studnets to read it back to you!  –– adapted from Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Happy holidays and prosperous and healthy 2012

Al Browne

Verizon Thinkfinity