Well, It is officially here! I am now writing my last blog for my Educational Technology class toward my MAT degree. Throughout this class I have learned so much on all the technology that is out there for teachers to use in the classroom. Online communication tools are never-ending in the world of education. Everything from email, Skype, blogs, Facebook and other social network sites can be used in classrooms today. I believe that email is especially important to use in education as a tool for communication with parents. Many times, teacher and parents are on totally opposite schedules as when good times to communicate are. With email, one can send an email and then wait for a reply. It is much more efficient than playing phone tag with each other. I also believe that it is important for students to use email and become familiar with it because it has become such a crucial part in today’s world.
Online communication tools such as Skype and blogs have also become increasing popular in classrooms today. Many of the readings I have done were on classrooms using Skype to communicate with other classrooms around the country or globe for that matter. I feel as though using Skype is kind of like a modern day pen pal. While it is still very important for students to learn penmanship, using a software such as Skype will get them very comfortable with technology and will also allow them to see other cultures and ways of life by means of online communication. It would become more real to students, being able to talk and see other students like them in other countries and states.
With the use of all the available online communication tools is the worry of computers being safe and secure. While there are so many good software and tools out there, there are also many harmful viruses and worms. I am not currently in a classroom right now, but am pretty familiar with many schools’ ideas on keeping their students’ computers secure. Many computer labs have a virus scan on all computers that run numerous times a day making sure that nothing harmful shows up on the computer. Unlike computers at home that mainly allow students to surf the web on whatever they like, schools have certain filters that block certain actions and websites to be visited on the school computer. This will keep students using the software that is available to them for educational purposes only. While there are many things out there for teachers to use, it is important that we understand that we too follow school AUP’s and keep all computers safe and secure. And this is something I cannot wait to be a part of!
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