RR2-
The first computers were meant to be stand alone and have a task to fulfill. No doubt, that today’s computers have moved away from this. (Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom by Shelly, Gunter and Gunter) Computers communicate with each other by connecting to networks. There are multiple types of networks, Local area, Wide Area, home and even Classroom networks. The connectivity of the computers really comes back to a persons ability to gain access to the network.
People using computers can now communicate thanks to networks. I can look up my students’ grades in other classes as well as their home phone numbers. This connectivity has been very helpful when I am trying to help a student write a paper, I can see what scores they have gotten in their Language Arts class. I can see their scores. This has been very helpful since our school has moved away from teams in middle school and I do not always know who their other teachers are.
I can also connect to parents using a on-line grade book. We are connected through the internet and the families do not have to just wait until progress reports to know what their scores are.
I use to work at an inner city school, my first year there I had to go to the media center to update my grade book and check e-mail. The next year my teacher computer was hooked up to the school’s network and internet. I was then able to show pictures and expose my students to the world outside our city. Since I was now connected we were able to take virtual field trips. Geography was starting to make sense to them because the connections could be made using the computer.
Imagine what I could do if I use twitter or a Personal Learning Network like Joe Dale suggested. The options again seem to open me and my students to a whole new world. I also liked the 19 ways to use twitter in the classroom what a great idea to set up an account and have parents and students “follow” me. They could have a communication tool with me. The students are comfortable texting and typing why not connect to them in a way that makes them comfortable.
I am not plugged in, yet. I plan to move farther away from Digital Immigrant (someone who did not grow up or comfortable using digital media) and closer to my students who are Digital Natives (use and grown up with digital media). I hope to create a twitter account just to connect to my students, now!
I enjoyed reading your reaction and you communicated very well how you are definitely “plugged in.” You also mentioned that your “school has moved away from teams in middle school” and you stated that you don’t always know who their other teachers are. That would be very frustrating to me and I am curious if you feel any disconnect because of it? That seems very ironic since you are so “connected” on many other different levels.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are really interested in using Twitter. I think you would be able to really build the communication between school and home with such an account.
You also made a great point when you said, “The students are comfortable texting and typing why not connect to them in a way that makes them comfortable.” That would be a way to help them and their parents stayed connected to what’s going on in your classroom.
I have a question for you. Do you have your Twitter account yet?
Thanks for your post, and I plan to “follow” you using the Google Reader Kelvin set up for us. That’s a great tool for staying connected as well.
:) Ruth