Chapter 7 - Communicating with Technology

Discussion Boards
I really like the idea of having a classroom discussion board. I am a shy person and take some time to formulate my opinions. I agree with the book when it says that discussion boards can help students who are similar to myself. In classrooms, these students may be pegged as just following along, but they are in fact thinking about the situation and the different aspects involved. If students are allowed to use a discussion board, I think that they will have more of an opportunity to think about what they are saying and what their response will be.

I really like the idea of using the discussion board to aid in international communication. I think that once classrooms are connected across the globe, students can post their opinions and ideas about different topics and compare their reactions with those of international students. This can create and interesting learning experience for students in the area of diversity as well as tie in to different content sections.

My only question about discussion boards is related to student home use. If students are to be allowed to have ample time to respond and create discussion, what about the students who may not have a home computer? I wonder if maybe they would feel left out if the discussion board idea takes off. I understand that students could be allowed to use the classroom computer after school or could go to the library, but both seem to have problems. If a student stays after school to use a computer, I think they would not be able to benefit from the relaxed atmosphere inspired by discussion boards and posting may become a chore. This attitude may also manifest itself it students must be taken to the library to use the discussion board.

http://community.scholastic.com/scholastic?category.id=kidBoards : this website is a simple fun discussion board which can be used to introduce students to the idea of how discussion boards work and what is involved. I think that before students should be expected to create thoughtful discussions/responses, teachers should relate the technology tool to students in an interesting and fun way.
http://www.classroom20.com/: this website is for teachers and I found it very interesting. It is dedicated to exploring the options for using new technology in the classroom. The forums section has many varied yet relevant topics and I find it interesting. Another place to look is the groups page. There are over 300 groups catering to diverse people and attitudes.

Interactive Chats and Messaging
I am not really sure how I feel about chat rooms or instant messaging between students and classrooms. When I think of two different classrooms, I think of two completely different schedules. I wonder how teacher manage to coordinate times where their students can chat across the district, nation, or globe. I also wonder what type of chat is involved. Does every student have their own computer which is connected to all the computers in the second classroom? Or is one student designated the "typer" and all other students just give ideas and suggestions for what to talk about? Also, how is this carried into the after school sphere? Are students allowed to share their personal instant messaging screen names and create friendships with those in distant locations? Or is it mainly a school contained chat where students participate but do not get closely acquainted with their distance partners?

I feel like I need to be convinced that instant messaging is useful in an elementary classroom. Besides the instantaneous factor, I do not really see the difference between using a message board and instant messaging. Both would be useful for discussing project ideas, getting to know students from across the globe (or town), discussing relevant ideas and thoughts, etc. Plus message boards allow for a time delay which can foster deeper thinking and insight.

I'm not really sure where instantaneous chat comes into play but I imagine that it is a waste of time and resources to use it within the same school or classroom. I feel like this instantaneous process, if between students in the same classroom or school, could easily be achieved by students talking directly to one another. It would be a faster and a easier way to communicate as well as allow students to develop their inter-personal and collaborative skills.

Because some classrooms are connected globally, I can see how synchronous chat may be useful but I still think it could be achieved through other means. Students, especially those in different time zones, may have difficulty coordinating times where they can chat. Another problem I see with instant messages is that it may become confusing, especially in group chats. Students can easily get off topic and I think that as a teacher, it will be difficult to monitor twenty or so different conversations. Also, with all the stigma associated with instant messaging and chat rooms for elementary students, I think it may be difficult to convince classroom parents to allow their children to use this feature.

Videoconferencing
I really like the idea of videoconferencing and think that with the right technology, I would definitely use it in the classroom. Although I initially assumed that all a teacher would need is a webcam and an account with skype or some other provider, upon further reading, I get the idea that it may be more costly and the equipment more technical than that. I question if you really need more technical equipment or if videoconferences can be done using cheap software.

What I really like about videoconferencing is that it connects learners to the outside community. Students are not just isolated in the classroom all day, they are able to interact with adults and/or other students in the wider area. I think that by listening to experts or simply discussing issues with their peers, children are more likely to become interested in a subject and learn more about a particular topic. I also think that videoconferencing can help motivate learning and exploration because students will want to know about a topic before discussing that topic. Used in conjunction with a high interest unit/topic, I think video conferencing can be used to get even stubborn learners interested in the content.

However, my problem with videoconferencing is that I question how easily teachers could obtain experts with which students could discuss a certain subject area. I feel like video conferences suited to learning in many different subjects but wonder how teachers can get professionals interested in video conferencing. Would the professionals be interested in participating in this opportunity or is it seen more as a hassle? Are there resources on the internet (that I may be missing) that have a list of institutions and companies which are open to provide experts for these situations or it is up to the teacher to contact the relevant persons?

As a new teacher, I would also worry about how to correctly use video conferencing. The book mentions that it is important to keep learning in the forefront and not use video conferences for the novelty of the idea. I worry that the idea of video conferencing may be exciting for students but that students are just interested in using the technology. I understand that students are not usually not excited about learning, and I think technology can help to increase student interest, but I wonder how much is too much. What happens when the school computers have a virus, or the video conference interviewee cancels, are students going to be completely uninterested in school work that day? I just wonder how teachers can effectively integrate technology such as video conferencing but now have students become too reliant upon it.

http://www.netc.org/digitalbridges/uses/: this website is helpful for teachers looking for a variety of uses for video conferencing throughout the school system. There are classroom uses as well as uses for conferencing by teachers. Each category expounded upon also has a real world example attached to it. The example is a link which one can click on and learn more about. I like how the short explanation section also has an example link because this allows users to become more familiar with what is being talked about.

http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=279: this is a video created by one teacher about the uses of video conferencing in his classroom. I enjoy seeing examples such as this one because it shows how one teacher can use the technology available to thoroughly enhance the learning of his students. The uses for video conferencing (as well as countless other technologies) are numerous in his classroom and it gives me courage for integrating technology in my future classroom.


Podcasts
I really enjoyed reading the section on podcasts in the textbook. I often feel like the book introduces new technology but fails to adequately explain the technology so that persons who are unfamiliar with it are able to understand what is being talked about. But I really feel like the book thoroughly explain the idea and use of podcasts and I think I now understand podcasts and am very excited to interact with them. I recently downloaded the latest version of iTunes so that I can start seeing the types of podcasts there are out there. I am very excited to become exposed to this new technology.

However, I wonder what exactly makes a podcast a podcast? How is a podcast different from a video? Is it just because the podcast can be played on an iPod? I feel like podcasts are just videos that can be played on a variety of devices but maybe I am wrong.

As a teacher, I think that this technology could be really beneficial to the classroom. Besides watching a pre-made podcast, I think that having students create a podcast is a great way to synthesize learning in a particular subject and topic area. For example, after learning about different planets and watching a few podcasts from the NASA Hubble website, students can be engaged to create their own podcast which explains what they themselves learned about the planets, astronomy, and what they still are interested in knowing. This type of project would not require a lot of time but would be very effective in allow students to revisit information which in turn would help them internalize and remember the information. The podcast, once created and if collected all in one place, could also be used as a study tool.

I also feel like podcasts could be a great addition to establishing a home to school connection. Students could create podcasts that reflect their weekly learning or simply what they are interested in, or what their schedule is for the week. The podcast could be posted to the classroom blog and parents could read/watch what their student did or will do in the classroom. This not only gives parents an idea of what their student is learning, it also creates opportunities for discussion between parents and children. When I was younger and my parents asked me about what I did in school, I never felt like I had a good answer because I couldn't remember or care to share. With a podcast available on the website, parents can get insight into what is happening and then use this as a springboard for further discussion and learning opportunities with their child.