Focus question: How can teachers use email or instant
messaging to foster information exchanges with and among students?
Email and instant messaging
facilitates communication outside of the classroom in a big way. It is
important however, that teachers follow certain guidelines when using these
tools. For example using a password-protected student communication system to
email and Instant message. This will restrict who can access your
communication, and also protect you and your students from viruses, spam,
predatory individuals, and political extremist. Teacher can establish email
connections to libraries, museums and universities. This is helpful, because a
teacher can ask for information on a particular subject and also use it in
their lesson planning. Teachers and student can initiate email correspondence
with elected officials and other public policy makers. Having this type of
email connections, teachers and even students can make their voices heard if
they ever have a request or opinion to share. Teacher may also hold online
office hours, when they respond to any questions a student may have. This is
great for students, because when they are home they don’t have their teacher
available to share any questions or concerns, but with email or instant message,
they can ask a teacher or fellow classmates for guidance.
Tech tool: www.blogger.com
Blogger is
a great tool for both teachers and students. To use blogger you need to create
an account. You can then choose the layout of your choice. A title may be
added. Once these steps and complete you can begin your blog. Information can
be added, and also re-edited if necessary. Blogger allows you to embed pictures
and videos into your blog. Teachers can have their own blog, with information,
or guidelines to an assignment. Another way to use blogger as an educator is to
have students make their own bog and update information, such as journal posts.
Summary: Chapter 8
This
chapter is about communicating and networking with websites, blogs, wikis, and
more. The chapter begins with some ways in which a teacher can use the technology
to communicate with students. Some of these include social networks, blogs,
wiki pages, emails, and instant messaging. It is a great tool for teacher to
post information or guidelines for assignment online, this is a place where
students can go when they are not in class to find information. Most students
have 24 hour access to this information, and it is impossible for them to lose
the information since it is online. Wikis
can be used as collaborative learning tools, where both the teacher and
students can add information. Other great aspects of technology for teachers
are emails. This chapter pushes that teachers should address safety issues to
protect both his or herself, and the student.
Photo credit to Peter Harrison
It is always fun to get to this chapter and be aware of all of these tools to some degree because of your experience in the class so far. Good focus on the safety issues, but glad that these types of communication technologies are available! Don't forget to actually hyperlink the websites (i.e., Blogger should be hyperlinked) and not use the URL in your writing (i.e,. don't type in www.blogger.com) - let me know if you need further instruction on this.
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