Technological tools from emails and discussion boards to Wikis and blogs. Corporations have incorporated the use of emails for quite some time now, and it is important that students understand a professional use of tools such as emails.
I have introduced emails to my students in different classes so that they may communicate with me and other students. We have established google accounts that serve for email purposes as well as blogs and instant messaging. My students are always interested in talking to their classmates for one thing or another. I allow my students on occasion to use instant messaging tools during practice work. I am constantly monitoring the instant messages so that my students stay on task, but because I am not always the expert on a given subject; I allow them to teach each other. Instant messaging allows students to assist each other with little disturbance to the class.
I have just recently begun using blogs. It is a motivational tool in helping to improve literacy and create a high level of classroom interaction. Students are motivated by the topic as it is relevant to their environment, and they are interested in reading how others feel. Ground rules such as appropriate language, respecting others’ ideas, and monitoring tone of response were discussed prior to the initial post.
Enhancing student interaction in an online environment is important to the effectiveness of my practice. My students expect to learn something different in my class as it relates to the computer, and I try to meet their expectations. Using more collaborative tools such as social media is a venture I would like to undertake. What are some advantages and disadvantages of incorporating social media in the educational field?
