2. Which technology tools have the greatest potential to improve communicated between teachers and others?
3. How do these tools improve communication?
Teachers should use technology to communicate with students, parents, and peers because it is the most widely used form of communication. Also, it has the potential to be one of the most effective forms of communication if used properly. Teachers must be educated on how to use technology successfully in the classroom by attending technology workshops and having support from their school district. If technology is integrated seamlessly into the classroom environment daily, it is more effective because the teacher and the students are comfortable with it and it is a routine. Technology allows questions to be answered almost instantaneously, therefore enabling the Internet to be an interactive tool. For example, if a student has a question for a teacher or peer about a project, the student could post it on a blog or email the teacher and receive feedback rapidly. It has been extremely useful having my teacher, Mrs. Langston email me back very quickly with response to specific questions. Also, the Internet can be earth friendly because it eliminates so many papers that teachers send home with students if they do not use the Internet effectively and post assignments online.
The tools that have the greatest potential to improve communication between teachers and others include blogs, email, videos, and newsletters. Blogs are a great tool that we have learned about in depth over the past 10 weeks. The blogs we created are effective for providing information about a specific topic. If I visit another blog from our course, I will access information about current practices, educational impact and solutions as well as resources they use or suggest. These class blogs for EDST 220 are a great example of informational blogs about a specific topic through an educational lens. Other blogs used for classrooms can display student work, homework assignments, and outside of the classroom activities for students to participate in. Email is a good, simple form of communication. Newsletters are also an effective form of communication that let students and parents know what is going on in the classroom and reminders. Any of these tools can be used in different ways to inform students and parents of due dates, reminders and keeping everyone organized. All of these tools can be used together to create a great learning environment. For example, email improves communication because it can be a fast discourse between a teacher and student that answers specific questions. A blog can be used for students to ask questions, but it is even more interactive because peers can put their input on the blog and have a discussion about the issue. People are more likely to succeed when everyone is on the same page for what is going on, what is expected, and communication is open.
