Blog Post 5

Why should teachers use technology to communicate with students, parents, and peers?
By using technology, communication can be much more efficient and swift. Instead of sending home letters, or calling each family individually, teachers are able to communicate to both the mass of the classroom and also parents individually about their children. Technology can help improve relationships between teachers, students, parents and peers by giving them the tools to communicate. Overall, by having technology implemented in the daily routine of the classroom more can be accomplished while improving relations between the classroom.

Which technology tools have the greatest potential to improve communication between teachers and others?
After taking this class, we focused on different technology tools that enables communication between teachers and others. Some of the best tools that can be used for teachers to communicate are blogs, newsletters, worksheets and email. Blogs are a great way to communicate because you can post things going on in the classroom, students work, and outside activities for students to partake in. The class is able to engage in the blog and add their input which can be useful to the class as a whole. Emails are good for one on one communication ideally, with parents, that can be private conversations about the student. Emails can also give fast updates to the class and parents on what is going on and things that need to be done. Newsletters let both students and parents know what is happening in the classroom, what is going to be happening in the future and can also keep everyone organized on assignments and due dates. Lastly worksheets can keep students communicated with the teacher in a classroom setting.

How do these tools improve communication? 
All of these tools can be used together to greatly improve the communication within the classroom, and can also be used separately and have a great effect. By having this quick communication within all these tools can help students succeed more and relieve stress on the teacher. If these tools were not implemented in the class then relations may be hurt because of a lack of efficiency in the classroom. When everyone knows what is going on, what needs to be done, and is able to keep in contact easily people are more likely to succeed.