Chapter 7 Reflection

In a world where technology is being learned at younger ages year by year communicating with technologies is an important aspect students need to learn. Students need to learn how to exchange ideas with discussion boards, exchange ideas with interactive chats and messaging, make connections through videoconferencing, and how to broadcast with podcasts and internet radio.

While having discussions online reduces some aspects of communication (body language, tone of voice, accents, dialects, pace, pauses, etc. it is a good way to communicate because authors will take more time to make sure they are communicating clearly. Other positive aspects in communicating through technology is that it is more organized - it can be organized by date, sender, topic, etc. Communicating through technology can also mean talking with people outside the classroom and possibly across the world. This provides multiple opportunities to research topics and develop arguments thoroughly. Asynchronous discussions support classroom environments in many ways. Examples are exposure to different cultures, ideas, and partnerships. They can reinforce different subjects (second languages, history, etc.).

Exchanging ideas synchronously with interactive chats and messaging are great for classrooms because of all the previous reasons as listed in asynchronous communications however, with this they can receive real time feedback to their ideas. Chats and instant messages are two ways to do this. Instant messaging is offered thorough Yahoo!, Google, AIM, Skype, and MSN. These include "buddy lists" and students can communicate with one another. IM is also utilized outside of the classroom for informal use.

Making connections through videoconferencing is a great way to involve experts in the classroom. Students will benefit from experts knowledge without the added cost of having travel and lodging to hear from the same expert. This is a cost effective way to involve people into the classroom from the outside world. This is also a great way for students to see what they are learning in the outside world used in the real world. For any computer, a camera can be purchased and plugged in via USB cable. Microphones can also be bought and used if it is not already on the computer. Videoconferencing should always be used as a support and not as a sole way of introducing and teaching the material.

Broadcasting with podcasts and radio conferencing are great ways to communicate as well. Streaming audio audios are in real time and can be delivered. Most people listen to the radio station online. Podcasting is recorded and played an infinite amount of times. This lets anyone become an director/ producer of an audio and/or video content. Podcasts can be downloaded, listened to, and created easily. I tunes provides a user friendly way to create podcasts. In the classroom this is great becuase it will help students use multi-dimensional concepts and cognitive levels to create one. It will also help build a community, and work in groups. Podcasts help with meaningful curriculum integration. Radio WillowWeb is a great example of a elementary school using podcasts as an aid to teaching.

Chapter 6 Response

Building a community in the classroom is very important for very obvious and numerous reasons. Helping create a community in the classroom can be achieved through different technologies. By using knowledge forms, using wikis, using interactive blogs, investigating international communities, building teacher communities, and using usenet and netnews groups.

As a teacher I really want to understand and utilize knowledge forums. I believe that students should have their opinions and knowledge shared and not devalued in the classroom setting. This forum can store notes, connect ideas, and help produce knowledge for users. I think this is a great way to have students communicate and build a classroom community that is on a technological level.

Wikis are similar to the forums in that they allow students to create community building environments. Wikis are meant as easy access to control and navigate through. While this may be easy for some of my students who are technologically advanced, using a Wiki sounds more reasonable when time is important. Being able to show my students how to use something and have them turn around and follow suit is incredible. It will help students keep on track, on time, and on pace. I use wikis in my everyday life. For example when I went to Spain I referenced wiki travel. Informing students about these different wikis (wiki books, wiki junior, etc.) will help students realize that they will use wikis on a semi-frequent basis. Wikis can be used as a project presentation, informational studying application, etc. Wikis are designed to have a collaborative environment.

Using interactive blogs is different than a wiki because blogs were initially intended for personal postings and not for communication. Now blogs are also communicable. Students can post on each other’s postings and connect in that way. I do not really see myself using bogs in my classroom. I think that they are controversial and that they are unnecessary in the classroom when there are many other great sources available. I think that if a teacher can make a blog parents can visit to see what is going on in their child’s classroom is a great idea. The blog would help parents, students, and teacher(s) stay connected and see what is going on.

I have always loved the idea of having my future classroom communicating with classrooms from another part of the world. I think that with technologies today that it is really a shame when teachers don’t put in the effort to do so. Learning circles are great to organize meetings and gatherings for people in a group working towards one common goal. Global schoolhouse is great place where teachers can seek out collaborative partners for their students. I will defiantly use this program to help me find meaningful learning opportunities for my students. Thinking about having my students communicating with someone that is not in the same state (at least) is amazing to me. If we are so lucky to get an international view, y students would benefit from having a different world perspective and point of view on the world and different situations and they would be learning about technology at the same time.

Building professional teacher communities with tapped in helps teacher communicate ideas and support one another. I am not sure if I will actually use this tool when I am teaching. I am more of a verbal communicator and will likely use the teachers that are surrounding me as influence. Granted, I will take and borrow ideas from teachers but probably from random websites. Teacher talk sounds like a really great resource to have however. I feel like that these discussion boards are more up my ally than the tapped in website.