Collaborative global projects are awesome. They provide students with experiences and opportunities that they could never find within the four walls of the classroom. And when students have the opportunity to share their work with an authentic global audience, their motivation goes through the roof.
However, from a teacher’s point of view, there is one big obstacle which often gets in the way of this type of project. To get the most out of a global education project, you really do need to set up your own website.
These days, there are countless companies that will help you create a web site, usually for a fee. Choosing the right one can be quite daunting: There are so many options and, once you sign up, you run the risk of being stuck with a system that isn’t right for you.
So, out of all these options, is there one that is clearly better than the others?
In a word: yes. It’s called WordPress.
Here are my top ten reasons why WordPress is truly, unequivocally, monumentally awesome.

1. It’s free.
WordPress is open-source software. It is developed by a massive community of volunteers and is distributed free of charge.
2. It’s a blogging platform
This means you can update your website from any computer in the world that has Internet access. It doesn’t matter whether you are using a Mac or a PC or a linux machine at an Internet cafe in Belgrade.
3. You can update your website from your phone
WordPress provides free iPhone, iPad and Android apps that let you update your website on the go. It’s perfect for school excursions – Just snap a photo, add a comment and your website is updated.
4. You can host your own website ….
If you have your own server, you can use it to run WordPress.
5. or you can use wordpress.com for free
If you can’t be bothered with the hassles of running your own server, you can create a WordPress blog at www.wordpress.com. If you are just starting out with online projects, this is absolutely the best option.
6. Themes
WordPress lets you concentrate on what you want to say, rather than worrying about the appearance of your site. At the click of a button, you can change the look and feel of your entire site. WordPress comes with over 100 themes, most of which are free.
7. The WordPress community
The WordPress movement is powered by volunteers. These people are very generous and very smart. If you have a problem, odds are that someone in the WordPress community will be able to help you.
8. Ease of use
Creating a new blog at wordpress.com takes less than five minutes. You can select your theme and have your website up and looking great in a matter of minutes. Adding new content is as easy as typing an email.
9. It’s powerful
WordPress has all of the features that you would expect from a modern blogging service. Even if the function you want is not included by default, there is a good chance that someone in the developer community has developed a plug-in that will meet your needs.
10. Content is King
Writing in WordPress is very simple. It is simpler even that using a word processor. There are no colours or fonts or word art to distract from the writing process. Because WordPress handles all the formatting, the user only has to focus on one thing: their content.
As teachers, we want our students to care about their writing, to believe that their words can make a difference. WordPress sends this message clearly: write well and the world will listen to you.
In my next post, I will walk you through the process of setting up a blog at wordpress.com.
WordPress image created by Rob Davies for the Microstock Stock Photo Powersearch Plugin for WordPress. Used under Creative Commons licence.