Megan McAdams
Educational Technology Integration
Gloria Gonzales Dholakia
September 18, 2012
Reflection: Reading #1
Within the Technology to Support Learning chapter various suggestions were provided to enhance learning within the classroom and outside of school through the use of technology. In the chapter it was communicated that technology used appropriately can definitely enhance relationships between homes, communities, and schools. For example, teachers can provide incentive for parents to help their children to succeed by developing an online text system. Parents and teachers signup through a website where cell phone numbers are anonymous for all participants. Furthermore, teachers can send parents reminder texts of students’ assignments that should be completed that afternoon or evening. This system keeps parents engaged and encourages them to take an active role in their child’s learning. Parents can also access helpful website links that a teacher can post to a class webpage to ensure all parents can help their children with material in take home assignments. Updated information on school websites allows community members to stay engaged, entices parents to volunteer their time, and creates interest in the success and growth of a school. What methods of technology would use in your classroom to efficiently connect parents and teachers?
One of the technologies I found most exciting in the chapter was the Learning Through Collaborative Visualization Project. This project is so enticing because it allows students to talk directly with experts in their studies and projects. With this opportunity students become more accountable for their contribution to learning in the classroom and are more excited to receive feedback on their ideas from an expert. In addition, when students are granted use of the same materials as scientists such as data sets and research tools they are able to take the opportunity more seriously and imagine if this were an opportunity in a career setting rather than just a classroom. These types of opportunities enable student to become more enthusiastic about course content and create possible interest in entering an occupation in health or science related fields. The experiences taken from these opportunities provide students confidence and spur ideas for future career interests.
In the school district I grew up in the teachers were always very connected to the parents of their students. The parents were always informed about upcoming events, their child grade and were the first to know about any emergencies on the school campus. The school district did this through the district website, texts alerts and emails. If there was an emergency on campus the website would be updated, the parents would receive an email and a text message. The parent was also able to check their child’s grade on a program called GradeSpeed. It’s a site linked to the district page were students and parents can look at up to date grades. These tools my former school district used I think are great tools for teachers staying connected to parents. As a teacher I love to use these methods of technology or similar methods in my classroom to stay efficiently connected to my parents.
Teaching is about building relationships with students, parents, and administrators. Now that we are in the 21st century, a huge part of communication in these relationships comes from technology. Thus, it is even more important to take advantage of a society that is centered around technology. A few ways that i would communicate with parents would be through email, cell phones, and a class website. For example, would use email and cell phones if i needed to contact parents about a specific child. Otherwise i would post all of the general information about class on the website and let parents be as involved as they want to be.