Using Technology to Communicate with Parents
Blog
How are the tools useful? It keeps a lot of the classwork in one place, and you can communicate with parents and students.
How do the tools enhance parent communication? It creates a way for parents to see what is happening in the classroom and gives them a way to talk to their children about school.
What are some guidelines for using the tools? this is public so your students have to learn "Netiquette"
What are some drawbacks of the tools? It takes time to keep up, and maintain with the blog
Course Management Program
How are the tools useful? Power school and canvas are just two of these programs, but they are useful because they keep your students in the loop about their grade and its how you turn things in, and you can make comments and create discussion boards.
How do the tools enhance parent communication? These are more focused towards the students doing the work and watching their grades but these programs help the teachers watch and see how their child is doing in school, it shows their grades. It shows
What are some drawbacks of the tools? from what I know from using canvas, or powerschool. a drawback is when doing projects,
Online Calendar Tool
How are the tools useful? A calendar helps teachers, students, and parents know when due dates, quizzes and other activities are happening during the school year. with Notifications, color coding and
How do the tools enhance parent communication? Having a tool that everyone can access with a computer, it helps keep parents in the loop about students homework, and important need to know dates.
What are some guidelines for using the tools? it would be an easy to use, app or website that any parent or student can access, even through their phone.
What are some drawbacks of the tools? Not everyone has technology to reach this platform. Not everyone checks notifications as often.
How are the tools useful? communication between teacher and parent or teacher and student. whether it be about school work, staying afterschool for help or problems the student is going through. It could also just be communication with the parent to know how the student is in the classroom and at home. What the teacher and parent can do to work together, and make it work.
How do the tools enhance parent communication? It gives parents and students a way to contact their teacher outside of the classroom, sending an email home to a parent saying that their child was very well behaved and did a great job on an assignment can create a healthier atmosphere between teacher and parent and student.
What are some guidelines for using the tools? For teachers it is important to let your students know if they email you, give yourself a time frame so you aren't answering emails at every time of day. Say you will check it between certain times.
What are some drawbacks of the tools? it's not instant feedback and sometimes people have a hard time finding the email address, and if you type it wrong it won't go to that person.
Skype/Google Talk/FaceTime
How are the tools useful? sometimes text or emails can be read differently than by what they were supposed to mean. hearing how someone responds verbally is different than text.
How do the tools enhance parent communication? this is instant video calling with a computer, or phone.
What are some guidelines for using the tools? the parent has to be able to get these programs.
What are some drawbacks of the tools?
connection can be difficult sometimes.