Communication

=Communication and Collaboration:= Communication is the mode and style we communicate with one another. Collaboration is using communication and other strategies to work together to formulate ideas and develop products. The Wiki serves for both purposes, communication and collaboration. It is way for students to reflect and react to new information as well as seek knowledge. Using the discussion forum allows collaboration and sharing of one's ideas. Slide is another tool to collaborate and communicate depending on how it is used. The media through TD is a great resource to deepen global awareness and to learn from others. The internet as a whole is a massive resource of information where people collaborate daily to gain information and to think more deeply. A Wiki is a tool for online collaboration because we are sharing resources with one another, sharing one's ideas and responding through the discussion tabs, and contributing to the understanding and formulating of one's ideas. It is a digital source to interact and publish our ideas as a shared resource.
 * **How is communication different from collaboration?**
 * **How can the technologies we have used so far meet the communication and collaboration objects as outlined above?**
 * **How can a wiki be used as a tool for online collaboration?**

= Blogging: = Tech Blog Blogging can be used in many ways by students. First, it can be used as a means to communicate and reflect on lessons. It can also be used as a genre of writing to explore and investigate in English Language Arts. Similar to book clubs, you can have blogging groups where students are divided into choice groups by interest to research and blog. Strengths: Blogging allows students to communicate in a different way than they usually are exposed. It is high interest and allows them to have more of a voice. Students today are used to expressing themselves online. writing to the internet audience versus their teacher, would allow a different type of expression that students currently are not expressing. It also allows them to receive feedback from a more global audience. Blogging can also be done from any working computer with internet. Students do not need to worry about saving on a particular hard drive and emailing attachments or using a cloud to save and transfer work.
 * How can a blog be used by your students?
 * What strengths and weaknesses does blogging have as an effective method of online communication?

Weaknesses: Students are able to receive instant feedback to their written work which is a great strength, but at times it can be a weakness. The more accessible you become, the more you are expected to react. If students are receiving instant feedback, then they will be expected to respond to that feedback as well. It is also difficult to control what is said and by who. In addition, not all information is accurate and it is already published on the internet. Often, students do not edit and revise work when publishing on the internet and another language is used. We get into the habit of using IM jargon and drift away from proper English.

=IMing: Online Communication= IMing is a tool for communication that our students are already using daily with one another. It can be used in many ways, but one that sticks out is part of Think/Write/Pair/Share or when students are debating or discussing a topic of interest that can be heated. It's a great way for students to express their thoughts in a less strenuous way. You don't need to think about grammar, sentence structure, or proper English language. IMing has its own language that students are familiar with. It is of high interest to students and allows students to address many different themes and topics within an idea. Thoughts are short and to the point, commented on by others, and then moved quickly to another. It is a different type of discussion where a teacher isn't always bringing you back to the main question, but at the same time, many ideas can be expressed.
 * •How can Pirate Pad be used by Students? **

**•What strengths and weaknesses do discussion boards and chatting have as an effective method of online communication?** There are many strengths and weakness. Many of the strengths were addressed above. It is of high interest, motivating, and contains its own language which students are already familiar. It also gives more students a voice who normally might not participate. In addition, it allows many points of view to be addressed and discussed. Conversations can be short, but filled with strong points. In contrast, topics are short and there can be many different topics being discussed simultaneously. This can be difficult for the child that is highly distracted and has difficult following the conversation. If the student has nothing to contribute, it can also be difficult to have a meaningful conversation. When communicating in this way, I think it is very important to have a topic that is of high interest.

4:45 PM **me**: ok, so let's talk about a technology 4:46 PM **Stefanie**: well want to talk about the points you bring up in your article? i think you make some very valid points **me**: sure! 4:47 PM **Stefanie**: it's so true that the "older" generation seems to be getting more afraid of technology as time goes on, rather than embracing it and trying to learn how to use it don't you think? **me**: yes, def **Stefanie**: i can think of so many teachers off the top of my head who freak out as soon as we get a new tech in school 4:48 PM **me**: its getting harder for them to also relate to the students and their kids as that gap increases **Stefanie**: you are right, especially as this young generation pretty much revolve their lives around tech **me**: omg. crazy! if they only realized that technology frees up their time and will allow them to work with more students bc technology can hold their "place" while they work with other kids 4:49 PM **Stefanie**: exactly! it's really a fear of the unknown i think 4:50 PM **me**: yeah, and that its "more" work and too difficult to learn **Stefanie**: our own generation is lucky i think, because we grew up kind of directly in between the "old school" ways and the newer ways of using tech in very aspect of your life so we are able to find a balance between what is useful, and what is worth learning 4:51 PM **me**: i think everything is "more" work at first, but once u do it once u dont have to do it again 4:52 PM **Stefanie**: exactly...one thing that comes to mind is the X2 i remember the big uproar over that at first, but honestly, i find it SO easy and quick to use and it saves everything, so finding the info you need for a student is a breeze, and all in one place 4:53 PM **me**: exactly 4:54 PM there area also TONS of text-speech programs which will allow kids to listen and follow along in a book or textbook on the comp so a teacher does not have to sit with them the entire time the teacher can also input guided questions into the computer and print the student's answers after for accountability 4:55 PM **Stefanie**: which is a HUGE help for so many students, and frees up the teacher to do other parts of the lesson!! **me**: it allows teachers to work with ALL students, differentiate and create a universal design environment **Stefanie**: it is a win/win situation for everyone **me**: exactly, yet we have so many teachers who are tech-phobic and not willing to learn **Stefanie**: exactly, which at the end of the day, should be the goal of every teacher **me**: yeah 4:56 PM **Stefanie**: it really is too bad, because unfortunately that is the way the world is going **me**: if we can get teacher's to be on board, we can then get parents..i think by incorporating more tech into the classroom, we are also teaching students how to use it appropriate which could lessen the prob we see kids are having today 4:57 PM **Stefanie**: like you said in your article, by the time someone graduates college and is ready to apply for a job, he/she needs to be proficient in many diff. uses of tech. oooo good point!! maybe that's the reason why so many kids misuse texting, emailing, social networking etc....bc they were ever taught HOW to use them 4:58 PM **me**: if their parents are not educated about those technologies and their teacher's arent either...there are no good models to follow and learn appropriateness 4:59 PM Really in today's climate, i hate to say it, but longer school days are necessary bc subjects like technology and computers need to be taught as an everyday course **Stefanie**: which is why they can take the freedom that some of these technologies provide and run a little rampant with them! i know....you do bring up a good point 5:00 PM **me**: kids can learn safety, causes and effects of tech as well as powerpoint for proj, excel, search engines, research proj, so much more! exactly, they do run rampant **Stefanie**: yes! 5:01 PM to be honest i am shocked that technology is not a bigger part of the school day, when it's such a huge expectation that all students be proficient by the time they graduate but maybe it all goes back to teacher/administrator/parent resistance **me**: i think it really does 5:02 PM if it was a priority, the district/school/teacher/parent would make it i really do think many adults do not realize the benefits of it yet and are scared or naive 5:03 PM Poster board presentations dont really happen anymore at the collegiate/work force level...powerpoint is where it's at! 5:04 PM **Stefanie**: yes!! and i love powerpoint in my ideal classroom, every kid would have a laptop so that way things like powerpoint or slide show could be a HW assignment! **me**: it's interesting to be talking about this subject as well as looking at this convo from the perspective of a teacher, bc we are bringing up several points which can get a bit off target but are imp to talk about i know! 5:05 PM my cousins in TX, their school lent out a laptop at the beg of the year to EVERY student to bring to school and use as well as do HW on 5:06 PM **Stefanie**: that's fabulous....elementary school? **me**: i worry that the multitasking and the distractibility of kids today are an effect of this type of communication middle and high school **Stefanie**: i think it definitely is a direct effect of it **me**: yeah 5:07 PM its hard to keep track of all of our thoughts **Stefanie**: it's one of the most negative aspects of it **me**: def **Stefanie**: along with their lack of social kills skils* **me**: absolutely all they want to do is play on the comp...even in afterschool **Stefanie**: skills* AH! sorry haha don't you think though? **me**: i am like no! let's have some face-face time 5:08 PM **Stefanie**: i think it becomes more apparent as they get older too **me**: every year i get a new group of the kids...the social skills are lacking even more, more immature, and more distracted absolutely 5:09 PM **Stefanie**: oyyy.....it's so scary **me**: as with everything, there needs to be a balance approach **Stefanie**: they are SO different than the way we were at that age, and we aren't that much older than them! eactly exactly me**: tech is great and beneficial...but it cant be your only means of entertainment and written output** Stefanie**: but at the same time, it can't be ignored and feared either** me**: no, absolutely not** Stefanie**: like you said....if they are taught how to use these technologies appropriately, it might eliminate that desire to always use, because they will know what the effects could be** me**: but what really helped me become a fluent typer was when AIM came out and I talked to all my friends on it!** Stefanie**: oh yes!! AIM changed everything** me**: yeah, balance and education i think are the themes!** Stefanie**: i think that's a good note to end on.....and to have people think about.....BALANCE** me**: AIM was awesome! but there were those chat rooms but i was always taught not to go on them, and for the most part i didnt unless it was disney themed or something** Stefanie**: and how education today needs to strive towards that more** Stefanie**: me too!! hahaha....the good old days** me**: haha** Stefanie**: nice chat!** me**: good job stef!
 * i know! **
 * 5:10 PM im not even 10 yrs out of HS yet (almost), but what they do for entertainment, didnt even exist then **
 * BALANCE! **
 * 5:11 PM in fact, what is interesting is that i did all those typing programs when i was little nad they helped a little **
 * 5:12 PM haha **
 * hahah **
 * 5:13 PM **me**: yes! great ending!**