Scribd
Upload
58 views

Edu-225 Module 3 Assignment

This document discusses using technology to enhance communication in the classroom. It describes how teachers can use tools like virtual field trips and classroom websites to strengthen communication between teachers and students, as well as parents. Virtual environments like MUVE allow teachers to conduct online conferences with parents. The document advocates developing students' skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and adapting to change in order to prepare them for an uncertain future.

Uploaded by

api-281899843
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
58 views

Edu-225 Module 3 Assignment

This document discusses using technology to enhance communication in the classroom. It describes how teachers can use tools like virtual field trips and classroom websites to strengthen communication between teachers and students, as well as parents. Virtual environments like MUVE allow teachers to conduct online conferences with parents. The document advocates developing students' skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and adapting to change in order to prepare them for an uncertain future.

Uploaded by

api-281899843
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

1

Lorie Ann Inslee


EDU-225
March 22, 2015
Professor Cecilia Szymanski
Communication Plan of the Classroom Technology Plan
Communication is a necessary part of being. It is difficult to imagine a time when
communication did not exist. Humans engage in discourse with fellow humans in numerous
fashions and they are constantly discovering, developing, and inventing untold ways to impart
and receive information through technology. The hallowed halls of education are no exception to
this manic burst of technological genius when it comes to disseminating information to its pupils
and students. More and more, educators are adapting their teaching methods to revolve around
implementing a variety of technological advancements to strengthen and enhance the triangle of
communication between themselves and their students, stake holders such as the parents, and the
global community at large within the classroom.
Technology is changing the interface of today's students, and thus the face of education. 21st
century students think and act differently. Students are no longer satisfied by merely sitting at a
desk having information dished out to them just as Charlie Brown's teacher dished it out in
indiscernible amounts. Thus, it has forced teachers to rethink their classical curriculums. As
education gradually takes strides to change its processes in order to catch up with the digital age,
K-12 teachers in todays schools must create knowledge structures around learning standards,
classroom dynamics, student learning needs, subject matter knowledge, and technology
knowledge to keep up with the rest of the world (Coffman, 2012). A combination of
technological tools can serve to enhance learning experiences. An excellent example is planning

2
a virtual field trip to another state or country. They can travel to their destination by using
Google earth; a 3D program which allows students to [t]ravel and explore the globe (Shelby,
Cashman, Gunter & Gunter, 2011, p. 89, para. 1). This multi level learning event serves as a
form of energetic communication between teacher and students because there is collaboration
through doing research using various search engines, and choosing and planning their
destination as virtual tourists. Through Teacher Tube, the teacher can then explain their itinerary
and their traveling instructions. Students will be excited to learn and the teacher, as their tourist
guide, will be encouraged by their enthusiasm. Parents will be smitten by their children's
contagious verve as well.
Most parents want to be involved in their student's educational career. However, some parents
do not have the time to be involved to the greatest degree. This is another area where technology
comes to the rescue. Certainly, e-mail is the main tool for communication between parents and
teachers. There are classroom websites that parents can access to check on their student's
progress and assignments. In lieu of face to face parent/teacher conferences, Skype is an
alternative for busy parents. They can schedule the conference according their convenience.
However, there was a group of teachers at California Lutheran University who have taken this
idea one step further. According to Erlanger, Verigen-Heim & Bryde (2001), they were
connecting with parents on the MUVE. They were part of a study to evaluate 'Tapped In' which
is a multi-user virtual environment (MUVE) [for] facilitating parent-teacher conferencing.
Participants chose Tapped In as [i]t allowed inservice teachers to communicate with students'
families about student progress. Topics for online discussion included homework [and]
upcoming events... (Erlanger, Verigen-Heim & Bryde, 2001). This is an awesome way for
teachers to communicate with parents. Furthermore, students with parents who want to be

3
involved in their education could possibly strive harder than those whose parents do not
participate.
As global citizens, digital natives are doers. They organize, socialize, and realize their
dreams. They use their laptops, tablets, Ipods, and Smart phones to facilitate self learning, as
well as completing assignments. In fact, 4th and 5th grade students in Japan use their phones to
conduct scientific experiments at home with their parents according to Nakahara, Yamaguchi,
Nishimori, Mochizuki, Nakano, Furuta, Sekine, Ofusa, Takikawa, & Yamauchi (2008). They
collaborate with their peers on assignments and organizing virtual field trips. Teachers can guide
students to communicate with other students and teachers through Google Community. Through
this one event- a virtual field trip, there are several prongs of communication happening
simultaneously and students are learning through experience the collective skills of many
subjects. This is the magic of communication through technology in the classroom.
Critical thinking and problem solving are the most important skills an individual needs to be
a productive, successful global citizen. Students need guides by their sides who can through the
use of technology, shine the line on their pathways. One thing is certain. No one knows what
tomorrow's world will bring to the world of education. Teacher educators cannot predict what is
going to be obsolete in the next century, but they can develop highly unique and valuable skills
in their students, such as the ability to adapt to constant change and to respect the diversity of the
citizens of the world. Competency with technology tools is also helping to bridge that gap
(Coffman, 2012, p. 206, para. 2).

Lorie's classroom website: Mrs. H's Super Science Class


Website address: http://mrshssuperscienceclass.weebly.com

4
References
Coffman, T. (2012). Embedding Global Education Using Educational Technologies. In
Proceedings of Global Learn 2012 (pp. 203-208). Association for the Advancement of
Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved from
http://www.editlib.org.library.gcu.edu:2048/p/42068/
Erlanger, W., Virgen-Heim, V. & Bryde, B. (2001). Connecting Parents and Teachers on the
MUVE. Presented at Annual Meeting of the National Educational Computing
Conference 2001. Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org.library.gcu.edu:2048/p/94061/
Nakahara, J., Yamaguchi, E., Nishimori, T., Mochizuki, T., Nakano, M., Furuta, Y., Sekine, S.,
Ofusa, J., Takikawa, Y. & Yamauchi, Y. (2008). Learning about science with parents :
Developing an Educational Program for Scientific Experiments Using Cell Phones. In J.
Luca &
Shelly, G. B., Cashman, T. J., Gunter, G., & Gunter, R. (2011).Teachers discovering computers:
Integrating technology in a connected world (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
ISBN-13: 9781285845432. Retrieved from http://gcumedia.com/digitalresources/cengage/2014/teachers-discovering-computers_integrating-technology-in-achanging-world_ebook_8e.php

You might also like