Integrating digital tools in the classroom can enhance both student engagement and communication with families. A classroom website serves as an effective platform for teachers to share newsletters, student work, and updates with parents, accessible from any device.
Jessica's Suite of Tools-
Click on any picture to find a linked video or article with more information.
Communication Tools
BuzzMob- BuzzMob is similar to Remind 101 in that it acts as a main form of communication between parents and teachers. I would recommend only using one of these two apps, not both at the same time. I think that the strength in apps like these is that they are the consistent form of communication, not one of many. BuzzMob provides a calendar that teachers can keep updated for parents, messaging options, and the opportunity to communicate with teacher's about homework or volunteering. One weakness that I see in BuzzMob is that it is designed for a whole school to take on, rather than one classroom. I like that Remind 101 was more catered toward the use of one teacher instead of the whole school. Sometimes if an app has too many options, it can get overwhelming and confusing. Potential uses for BuzzMob include communicating between whole staff internally, whole school externally, or within a single classroom. This app seems like a better choice for a school who is willing to go all in on it together.
Remind 101- Remind 101 is a free communication app built for education. There is no sharing of phone numbers involved, but effective collaboration between parents, teachers, and students can still take place. The app must be installed by both parties and then simple and efficient messaging can take place. A strength of this tool is that families don't have to share personal information such as phone numbers or email. There is only one place for communication to take place. Teacher's can set reminders for their class as well as message parent's individually. A weakness of the app is that there could be pushback from parents on downloading yet another app to crowd their busy home screen. I think that if a teacher was really consistent in introducing the app and using it strategically throughout the school year, it could be very helpful! Potential uses include reminding students the night before what to bring for a field trip, sending parents quick summaries of what was completed in class that week, and much more!
Learning Management Systems
Schoology- Schoology is very similar to Edmodo. It offers a management system to teachers where they can work with students, parents, and other educators. I haven't frequently used either system so I'm not really in a place to say which one is better, but both are free and I have read great reviews about both of them. A strength of Schoology is that it makes for easy navigation when having discussions. I see this features as being a strength because it allows for conversation and collaboration to happen between students all in one place. Teacher's have a 'spotlight' tool that allows them to easily see who is participating in discussions and who is not. In reading different reviews and articles it seems that the biggest weakness of Schoology is that it doesn't have as big of a professional development community. This could be because Edmodo has been around a little bit longer. Overall, I could see myself using Schoology as a management system in my classroom to connect with parents and my students as well.
Edmodo- Edmodo is a popular learning management system that is best described as being similar to Facebook, but in a more controlled way that is appropriate for school. It functions as a safe place for teachers to collaborate, connect, and share content with parents. Students can also log in to Edmodo if they have missed a day of school in order to find out what assignments they missed. A strength of Edmodo is the vast amount of features it contains. Teachers have total control of what is posted and there is no option for a student or parent to post anonymously. The only weakness I can think of from depending so strongly on an online system is that if someone doesn't have access to the internet at all times, than they might fall behind. I could definitely see myself using this system as a primary tool in my classroom. Creating an online community amongst the parents in your classroom is fairly new, but I think it's more appropriate to connect with parents on Edmodo instead of Facebook. As a professional, I would feel most comfortable connecting and collaborating with parents through this medium.
Content Specific Tools
Khan Academy- Khan Academy is a content specific tool because there is a developed lesson for hundreds of different subjects. I could definitely see myself using Khan Academy as a resource for my students who need a little extra help in any given area, but specifically math. As a young student I personally struggled with certain math concepts and this website would have benefited me greatly. Having the ability to go home and learn a certain lesson at my own speed would have been so helpful. I think that for this tool to be used most efficiently, the teacher needs to go through and pick out the lessons that would be best for their students. I want to make sure that I agree with the methods that are being used to teach any certain subject or strategy. If I use this tool in my classroom, I will definitely make sure that I send home some sort of assessment or guide to accompany the lesson.
Kids A-Z- Kids A-Z is an easily accessible reading app that provides an individualized experience for each student who chooses to use it. One of my favorite aspects of this app is that it provides leveled books for any and every type of reader who signs on. The app offers comprehensive quizzes along with each story, so that teachers can make sure that their students are getting the absolute most out of their reading. The only weakness I have found with this app is that it is most easily used on an iPad and not every classroom has access to them. I could see myself using this resource in my classroom very consistently during silent reading time. I believe that it is incredibly healthy and beneficial for students to be reading books at their reading level. Kids A-Z provides an entire library to teachers of pre-leveled books.
Social Media
Twitter- Social media in the classroom is something that I am still going back and forth between. I think that it does relate to the students, but I am still deciding if it is the most effective tool because it can also be a huge distraction. Having students communicate for learning on the same app that they use for communicating with their friends can get distracting. That would be the main weakness that I see on using an app such as Twitter. As far as strengths go, I definitely like the idea of having students follow respected leaders and news channels to stay updated on what is most current. Tweeting to their teacher or peers about things they observe or learn about their society through Twitter is definitely a way that technology has transformed education.
Instagram- Instagram is a great resource to document the work that is done in your classroom on a daily basis. Parents and students can follow your classroom account and get a glance into what goes on in your class. I see it as a strength for parents to feel like they are very much a part of the learning that is taking place. If I were to use this form of social media in my classroom, I would post student's artwork or feature a new student every week (About Me). Student's feel special when they're interests or hobbies are shared. My only hesitation in using Instagram is that I wouldn't want to overstep any boundaries of student's privacy. Posting pictures online (even if the account is private) could make some parents feel uncomfortable. This might mean creating some sort of waiver at the beginning of the year that parents can sign if they are okay with having their students posted on a private account.
Multimedia Content Creation
Collaborative Classroom Website- A classroom website is a tool that I am really looking forward to implementing into my own classroom next year. It can be used to post a weekly newsletter, a photo gallery of student work, and can also function as a blog for the teacher to be sharing their developments with the parents. It really functions as a virtual newsletter that parents can access from any device whenever they want. A classroom website can be the main hub for teachers who want to post links or updates. The only weakness that I can really think of with a classroom website is that often teacher's forget to keep them updated. I've stumbled upon quite a few on the internet that are fantastic, but weeks behind. Like any resource you share with your students, it is important that you hold yourself accountable to keeping its content updated and fresh.
Kidblog- Kidblog is a new and innovative way to help your students develop their love for writing. Kidblog can be used as a digital portfolio, a platform for finding a global pen pal, or simply a place to share creative writing. I think that a huge strength of this resource is that it gives students a way to share their voice and make it heard. One of my favorite aspects of Kidblog is that it is 100% focused on student safety. The website is very secure and teachers have complete access to the activity of their students. Students seem to realize the power of their writing when it is published. Providing an online space that their work can be viewed safely is such an essential part of teaching our students what it means to be a digital citizen. I have yet to find a weakness of Kidblog, but I plan on integrating it into my students learning experience in the Fall. So excited!
