Blog Entry 1 |
Technology to Support Communication |
Entry 1: Technology to Support Communication
Introduction The use of technology to support communication is an important part of a comprehensive classroom technology plan because it allows teachers to prepare how they will communicate with parents, students, and the global community. When a teacher is prepared with a technology plan they will know exactly what tools and resources to use for communicating what is happening in their classroom. Teachers can use different technological tools like email, social networking, blogs, and school or classroom websites to support communication with parents, students, and the global community. With the use of these tools, teachers should communicate to parents and students the proper internet security and safety rules used within their classrooms. Teachers use tools in technology to enhance their communication with parents, students, and the global community and with these tools teachers explain important internet security and safety rules. Technology to Enhance Communication E-mail: With computer technology and the internet, email is a great tool to communicate to parents, students, and the global community. A quick email can inform parents of their child’s academics and behaviors in school. If a student misses school, an email can give information to the student on what they missed for assignments that day. Using email teachers can communicate with the global community and other teachers from around the world that they may have met to share ideas and experiences with education. Fred Ramirez (2001) states, “Much of my communication occurs via email. This is the most convenient form of communication for many people” (p.31). Next to the traditional form of sending letters home, email is the most convenient way for teachers to communicate with parents. Social Networking: Another technological tool to use to communicate with students, parents and the global community is social networking. Most parents and students have Facebook accounts, Twitter accounts, or Instagram. Teachers can open a separate professional account and give parents and students limited access to their pages. On the teacher’s professional page, they could have upcoming announcements and the assignments for the week. This would also be a good way to connect with other teachers and share in the global community what is happening in the classroom and at school. Students can communicate with other students through social networking and establish unexpected relationships with students in the classroom (Coombs, Leite, & Grierson, 2010). Blogs: To coincide with social networking, blogs are also a way to communicate to parents, students, and the global community. “Blogs seem to be a viable tool for educators to integrate into their K-6 elementary classroom. It provides educators with another tool to implement technology standards and curriculum to prepare students to become digital citizens who are technologically literate” (Beatty, n.d.). Blogs are used to write about what is happening in the classroom, to give information and resources related to what is being taught in the classroom, to discuss lessons in the classroom, and to allow students to show what they have learned by writing their own blogs (Byrne, 2011). Parents, students, and the global community can access the blogs School or Class Websites: The blogs that were just discussed are most often found on school or class websites. These websites are yet another useful technological tool to communicate with parents, students, and the global community. A classroom website, developed by the teacher, offers communication to parents, students, and the global community by having information about how to contact the teacher, parent and student resources to engage the students learning outside of the classroom, important dates and announcements related to classroom activities, and blogs (Olmstead, 2013). Using a classroom website gives access to anyone who has internet access and the site address. Communication Internet Security and Safety Teachers should address Internet security and safety right from the start of implementing any tool for communications to parents, students, and staff. When using any form of communication such as email or social networking the teacher should let parents and students know that their personal information will not be shared. If using a social networking site such as Facebook, the teacher can open a professional account instead of using their personal account, which would have personal information on it. When using a blog or classroom website teachers must have signed parental permission to publish photographs of students and teachers should let parents and students know that only first names will be used when publishing class lists or student work. These are ways teachers can address internet security and safety when using tools for communication. The most important factor is the confidentiality and safety of the students. Concluding Paragraph Communicating with parents, students and the global community can be utilized by teachers through the use of technology tools. Emails are the most common way of communication between teachers and parents however; there are other tools in which communication can be spread. With the fast use of internet technology, social networking is a tool students have a grasp on and are willing to use. Blogs and classroom websites are a creative way to develop and send out information over the internet to parents, students, and others. Choosing to use these tools for communication require the teacher to ensure to parents and students the security and safety of the information being displayed. Communication between parents, students and others with the teacher is important to develop positive relationships with and provide an education for students. References: Beatty, M. (n.d.). Integrating Google Blogs into the K-6 Language Arts Classroom to Promote Interactive Learning Communities. Retrieved from http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/handle/10125/27119/Beatty.pdf Byrne, R. (July 2011). Three Purposes for Classroom Blogs. Free Technology for Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/07/three-purposes-for-classroom-blogs.html#.VP0m2nzF-So Coombs, D., Leite, J., & Grierson, S. (2010). Opening Pandora’s Box: Social Networks in the Classroom of 2010. Kentucky English Bulletin, 59(2), 14-18. Olmstead, C. (2013). Using Technology to Increase Parental Involvement in Schools. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 57(6), 28-37. Doi:10.1007/s11528-013-0699-0 Ramirez, F. (2001). Technology and Parental Involvement. Clearing House, 75(1), 30-31.
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AuthorJennifer Schaff ArchivesCategories |