Introduction
Communication is a vital part of the success of each student. This world is fast paced and technologically driven. One of the great benefits of living in this day and age is that advances in technology have opened up many useful and convenient means of communication. In a classroom setting, teachers can use various forms of communication to keep parents and students involved and informed, teachers have the opportunity to utilize a global community to enhance learning in the classroom, and teachers have the responsibility to ensure the Internet safety and security of students. “Keeping parents involved in their children’s schooling is just as much a responsibility of the school as it is of the parent” (Olmstead, 2013).
Communication is a vital part of the success of each student. This world is fast paced and technologically driven. One of the great benefits of living in this day and age is that advances in technology have opened up many useful and convenient means of communication. In a classroom setting, teachers can use various forms of communication to keep parents and students involved and informed, teachers have the opportunity to utilize a global community to enhance learning in the classroom, and teachers have the responsibility to ensure the Internet safety and security of students. “Keeping parents involved in their children’s schooling is just as much a responsibility of the school as it is of the parent” (Olmstead, 2013).
Technology
to Enhance Communication
(Teacher Website):
Teachers should implement a teacher website and
update it regularly. The website should
include important news and events.
Teachers may also list homework assignments and links to helpful study
resources. According to Olmstead,
research shows that parents want to be able to stay informed about their
child’s education by checking teachers’ websites (Olmstead, 2013). Students will have access to the teacher
website to stay informed of important news and events. A teacher website is a good place for
students to find homework assignments and links to helpful study resources. A teacher website is a valuable way to
connect to other teachers around the world.
It is helpful for teachers to share teaching tips and ideas with one
another.
(Email):
Email is a preferred method of
communication for both parents and teachers (Olmstead, 2013). A teacher should send a weekly email with an
attached weekly flyer in order to keep parents informed of classroom
happenings. Teachers must check email
frequently throughout the day, as this is a convenient way for parents to ask
questions or address concerns about a student. A teacher should send a weekly
email with an attached weekly flyer in order to keep students informed of
classroom happenings. Email is an
effective way to communicate with other teachers and professionals in the field
of education.
(Parent Portal):
According to research, a vast majority of
parents indicate that they would find a parent portal valuable and would
frequent the portal at least once a week (Olmstead, 2013). A Teacher should plan to implement the use of
a parent portal in order to allow parents to access students’ homework
assignments, grades, and attendance. Parent
portals allow parents to directly communicate with teachers via email through a
direct link (Olmstead, 2013). Students
will have access to the parent portal upon logging in. Students will have access to homework
assignments, grades, and attendance through the parent portal.
(E-Pals):
A
teacher should plan to implement the use of e-pals in the classroom. E-pals is a classroom exchange project that
is designed to enable students to develop an understanding of different
cultures through student exchanges using internet based tools such as email and
social networking (Gunter & Gunter, 2014).
E-pals has the potential to open doors around the world through which
students can cross cultural barriers as they reach out to and learn about
different students and places around the world.
(Remind101):
According
to research, a majority of parents are interested in receiving information
about their child through the use of text messaging (Olmstead, 2013). A teacher should plan to implement the use of
Remind 101. Remind 101 is a text
messaging service that allows parents to opt-in if they wish to receive
messages from the teacher via SMS (Bobbitt, Inman & Bertrand, 2013). A teacher can send short text messages with
special reminders for upcoming events and assignments. A teacher should plan to implement the use of
Remind 101 in a classroom setting.
Remind 101 is a text messaging service that allows students to opt-in if
they wish to receive messages from the teacher via SMS (Bobbitt, Inman &
Bertrand, 2013). A teacher can send
short text messages with special reminders for upcoming events and
assignments.
Communication
Internet Security and Safety
Internet
safety and security is of upmost importance.
A teacher must ask students to sign an Internet Security and Safety
contract. The Internet Security and
Safety contract should state a list of rules, which the student agrees to
follow as a condition to being allowed access to the Internet. A teacher must monitor any and all student
access to the Internet vigilantly. A
teacher must continue to teach and reinforce Internet Safety and Security
frequently throughout the school year.
A teacher should address Internet safety and security
with parents by requiring written parent authorization in order to allow
student’s access to the Internet. A
teacher should work hard to keep student and parent confidential matters
private, including emails of a sensitive nature. A teacher must treat parents respectfully and
professionally.
A teacher should address Internet safety and security
with staff by addressing members of the staff professionally. A teacher must keep confidential matters
private.
Concluding Paragraph
The use of technology to support communication in the classroom is very promising. Technology is a convenient way for parents, students and teachers to communicate important information. Frequent communication will greatly benefit the learning process and each individual student. Technology can open doors around the world through which students can cross cultural barriers as they reach out to and learn about different people and places around the world.
References:
Bobbitt, R., Inman, R., & Bertrand, E. (2013).
Using remind 101 as a classroom : communication tool. NACTA Journal, 57(4),
77-78.
Gunter, G.A. & Gunter R.E. (Ed.). Integrating
technology in a changing world. (2014). Retrieved from: http://gcumedia.com/digital-resources/cengage/2014/teachers-discovering-computers_integrating-technology-in-a-changing-world_ebook_8e.php
Olmstead, C. (2013). Using technology to increase
parent involvement in schools. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice
To Improve Learning, 57(6), 28-37. doi:10.1007/s11528-013-0699-0
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