Final Reflection

Seeing as this is my last reflection in this class, this reflection will be about any type of technology that can be used in the classroom, ranging from WebQuests to email to technology tools. I will answer each question by responding about the best technology tool to use for that question.
How will the communication tools/social networking tools learned so far help me communicate with my students? I believe the best technology tool to use to most effectively communicate with your students is through using email. I think that, by teaching your students to become more comfortable with using email, they will be more prepared for their future when technology will be more necessary. If they become more comfortable using email with their teachers, they may also become more comfortable emailing other students (friends), their parents while they're at work, or anyone else. I think that email allows the students to contact their teacher at any time, and you can assure them that you will check your email every night after you eat dinner by (for example) seven o'clock. That allows the students enough time after seven to complete any assignments that they emailed you with questions about, and it also lets them know that they should look at their work for the next day BEFORE seven so they can email you with any questions. I believe this system would work very well for both the teacher and the students to create a more effective system of helping students with homework.
How will the communication tools/social networking tools learned so far help me communicate with my students' parents? After taking this class, my eyes have been opened to a whole new world of communicating. I believe the best way for a teacher to communicate to students' parents (as a whole, not individually) would be through a class website. Parents would be able to go on the class site and see the class schedule, future/current assignments, etc. I will DEFINITELY use a class website with my students' parents. On the site, I will do my best to put as much of the students' work as I can. I think that it is so important for parents to be aware of what their children are doing in school, because it is the place their children spend the majority of their days.
How will the communication tools/social networking tools learned so far help me communicate with my colleagues? This one's tough for me. I personally would think that email would be the best way to communicate with my colleagues; however, a website may be useful too. First, let me talk about email. Email is wonderful because, not only can you email messages, you can also add attachments. If one of my colleagues wanted to swap lesson plans with me, we could just email them to each other as attachments from our computers and save paper. Also, a website for the school faculty might be helpful. It could have a calendar on it (google calendar) which would list field trips, upcoming meetins, deadlines, etc.
Why are these tools so popular with my students? Kids these days are so into technology. Now, if they were allowed to use technology in school, they would be extra involved and extra interested in what they were learning about! For some older teachers, using technology in the classroom is almost like a taboo. However, if you invite technology into the classroom, the students become engaged in the learning process and will remember information better if they are involved in learning
In which ways might I employ the communication tools/social networking tools learned so far to achieve classroom objectives? I think the best technology tool to use for this one would be for the teacher to make a digital story. When a teacher makes a digital story for the classroom, they are in charge of what the message is that is shown and how that message is shown. This would be the best because the teacher is in complete control of what and how the video comes across.
What are the pros and cons of the communication tools/social networking tools learned so far? One of the pros of technology is that students will love it! Almost any topic you pick, whether it's how paper is made or a biography on Harriet Tubman, the students will more likely than not be involved with any way you present the material if it is through technology. Another pro is that the teacher is in control of the technology and can shape it and mold it to fit the curriculum. A huge con of technology in the classroom is something that I've mentioned several times on this blog. The internet is a dangerous place! All it takes is for one of the students to not be supervised while on the internet, click on a wrong link or type in a website wrong, and BOOM, they're looking at things they shouldn't be looking at.