Blog Post 5

Why should teachers use technology to communicate with students, parents, and peers?
Technological advances are growing each year and children are becoming more and more high-tech. If technology is not incorporating into the classroom, either with just the teacher or both the teacher and student, the parents and teachers may fall behind of the students. Technology is also a faster, more efficient way to communicate with other people, if used correctly. Sending important information online is a necessary resource to take advantage of. It helps save paper, which is useful because many young children lose a lot of the paper handouts that are given to them in class. A child’s backpack can be a mess of homework and other crumpled papers; therefore, by the time the important piece of paper reaches the parent, it may not be readable. By using computers to post paperwork and important dates, the parents can be connected to their child’s educational life without needing the child to remember everything that happened in class. Young children’s memories do not know what information is important to remember. Therefore, if the teacher tries to save paper by just writing the essential dates on the whiteboard and expecting the children to go home and tell their parents, this is a very ineffective way. Communicating with friends via technology can also save time. In the past, trying to talk to a peer could take days because the only way to communicate was snail mail. Nowadays, texting and online messaging takes a matter of minutes, if not seconds. Overall, technology is a faster, more environmental way to communicate with students, parents, and peers.


Which technology tools have the greatest potential to improve communication between teachers and others, and how do these tools improve communication?
Originally, I thought that there were only a few technological ways for teachers and others to communicate; however, after taking in the new information and programs that I learned through this EDST 220 class, I now believe that there are many other potential options including blogging, Voicethread, and Word clouds. I think that blogging has great potential to improve communication because anyone who has a computer and the link from all over the world can view the details of the blog. The blogger can also post numerous links to various websites and videos that tie into the topic. Blogs can be used for both educational and social purposes. I think that Voicethread has very good potential to improve communication. It is a good way to receive input from students or peers on a topic related to the curriculum or just pictures that one is unsure about posting online. It is available for people who have the link and can be taken down at any point. Word clouds have similar potential to that of Voicethread. For students, it can be a good way for them to come up with multiple ideas and key words for topics. It is also a useful tool for brainstorming for a project and/or paper. Word clouds can also be used for employers to help collaborate with other employees about an important pitch.

Blog Post 4

On my blog, I decided to choose various gadgets that teach the followers more about the Digital Divide. I have a poll that asks “Is the Digital Divide a significant issue that needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later?” This question helps bring accessibility to people’s attention in a subtle, but efficient way. It draws the followers in by not stating what the Digital Divide is, but it mentions that it an issue which may or may not to be addressed urgently.

I also incorporated a Voki into the sidebar of my blog to greet anyone who wishes to hear her message. She states “Welcome to my blog! Accessibility, or the Digital Divide, is a current issue among countries and in the classroom. Technology is a very expensive necessity that not everyone can afford. I hope this educational blog will teach you more about the Digital Divide.” I decided to have her say a short explanation of Accessibility, without giving away too much information. I also thought that stating Digital Divide at both the beginning and end of her message will remind the listener of the blog’s topic.

The Voicethread, seen at the bottom of the page, shows various images that I believe emanate the Digital Divide. This gadget is a useful tool that can create certain emotions and show how Accessibility is truly affecting the world.

The Clustrmap, also at the bottom, is an interesting gadget. It automatically updates when people come to view my blog. This is a great way to see where everyone is coming from and who is affected by my blog.

For the Youtube playlist, I looked up different videos that explain the Digital Divide in a meaningful way. Many people are visual learners as well as auditory learners. Videos can be necessary to get the point across while appealing to different styles of learning.

Lastly, I will be adding a Links List that includes online articles related to the Digital Divide. It is currently not on my blog because I still have to research for articles that have enough content and worth to be added to this gadget.

Sustainability

In Tuesday's class, we were learning about the topic of Sustainability (particularly funding). This VoiceThread is a unique way to interact with pictures by commenting, recording, and/or doodling.

Accountability Mind Map

Does technology in education HELP, HURT, or BOTH?

(click to enlarge)

Blog Post 3

“Chorlton Park Year Two Blog” needs work, in my opinion. The design is very bland. It has a plain white background, a simple header, and barely any media elements. Most of the text is short and to the point, which works to some extent; however, it makes the blog look quite empty. Also, I think that the home page should explain more of the blog’s purpose and not showcasing the work of the Year Two students. People visiting the blog do not realize what this blog was designed to do until you click on the link called “Parents.” This link explains the blog and its main goal, but this page is mainly posts from parents to the teacher about the blog. It also never states the teacher who created this blog. On the home page, the teacher shows the same few students’ homework and the same assignments. It would be more effective to upload different students each month and to choose multiple homework assignments from various times in the year.

“Huzzah!” is a good blog that works. The design elements are very unique and not cluttered. The links are available in the sidebar and the teacher includes student blogs. I really like the reading gadget on the left hand side of the blog. The bookshelf design is eye-catching, but not too distracting. This blog has interesting stories that are about the students, along with some pictures. The audience is both the students and their parents, but it is quite obvious to tell who each story is intended for. The ones that start with “you” and a phrase that pertains to children are obviously for the students, while the ones that are just informational text are for the parents. It is creative because it speaks to the parents, but in a more entertaining way than just bland text. I can really tell the voice of the teacher in the writings, instead of just a professional sounding blog. There is also a slideshow of the students’ artwork, which is a more exciting way to showcase the classroom’s work than just posting pictures. This blog also includes some writings by the students about what they have been working on in the classroom and at school. This is a great way for the students to be involved in the blog and show the parents that their children are helping their teacher. Overall, this blog does not have anything wrong that stands out.

Accessability Word Cloud

1. Is it important for all people to have access to the Internet? Why or why not?

2. Will eliminating the digital divide create new global, national, and/or local social problems?

3. What might these new problems be?

(click to enlarge)

  

Blog Post 2

1. Offline, I do not believe that it is fair to dig into a teacher’s private life if they are not endangering any of their students’ lives. If a teacher has a personal secret that they do not wish for their classmates or fellow colleagues to know, then it should not be searched for, especially if this fact is not even posted online for the public. I think that teachers have a right to some form of offline privacy, just like anyone else. However, once this fact is against the law or harming a student, it should be investigated.

If teachers are willing to post pictures that could be seen as inappropriate online, then they should know that anyone can see these pictures, including their students and fellow faculty. I understand that teachers are regular people too and that they enjoy going out with friends, which may include drinking. Unfortunately, teachers are not encouraged to post pictures online of themselves consuming alcohol. It is just not professional and can be seen by anyone who knows that teacher’s name. Also, if the teacher happened to be out at a bar with friends and a parent saw them and captured a picture that is being investigated, then they are just out of luck. Basically, teachers should just be conscious of where they are and what they are doing because they never know who might be keeping an eye on them.

2. Teachers should stay on social networking sites because these sites can be great ways to communicate with parents about their children or the curriculum. Students, on the other hand, should NOT be friends with their teachers because this is an inappropriate relationship and can be seen as special treatment. Teachers are the leaders or advisors for the students, not friends. If students think that they are friends with their teacher, they may try and take advantage of the teacher. Also, if not all of the students are a part of the social networking site, then those who are not online friends with their teacher would feel left out and not liked by the head of their classroom. As a teacher, I would most likely create two different profiles, one for the parents and staff with my full name, and another for my friends and family with just my first name. I would make sure to be careful when uploading my own pictures or accepting tags in others’ photographs for both of my profiles, just in case a parent found the more personal profile. I would also not allow any inappropriate pictures of me to be posted online.