As usual I feel like I have more questions after class than I do answers.
I need to focus on one. What topic do I want to pursue for my inquiry?
As I mentioned in my last post, I’m interested in considering the ways I can use technology to connect parents to our class. Whether it be a class website or blog, I think informing parents will help us better work together to support our children/students.
Once again I find myself returning to the copy of Learn magazine that I quoted in my first blog post. Yes, yet another article about technology! (Of three main articles, three are about technology!) I appreciate the practical uses of technology it discusses as well how technology enhances communication and thereby improving the parent-teacher/parent-school relationship. I especially like the idea that conversations can happen at home about our school experiences–because parents will be in the know. If parents are informed about what we are doing at school they can better support our learning. Also, I think parents will feel better. (I know my parents in Primary French Immersion can be anxious at times about their child’s progress…) I think parents would really like having a window into our classroom activities that can be easily accessible at home or work.
Create a class blog. This is one of my goals.
I wonder about how involved and interactive parents are to be on the blog. Would they participate in useful ways (i.e. not just complaining)? Would it be best to it set up so that parents e-mail me rather than just leaving a “reply” directly on the blog?
Also, I have questions about of which type of blog would best suit my needs. WordPress seems good and I am learning how to use it through this course. I have some experience with Blogger too…there are a lot of choices as my group and I discussed today.
Other questions/concerns I have:
Can I put student work and photos online? (Privacy issues around media.)
How could I get students involved on the blog? (Riddles, math problems, questionnaires students can do with their family? Are they authors of the blog too?)
Should the blog become a part of my Language Arts/Science/Socials/Math program? (The parents could view the work in its various stages.)
What goes on the blog and what does not? (I can imagine creating more questions for parents if I posted too much/too little in some situations.)
Overall, I expect that creating more connections with parents will lead to positive changes. Being “transparent” supports student learning in many ways and using technology (a blog) may be just what I was missing…
When I walk my neighbour’s dog, I always take a photo with my iPhone from the walk and send the picture with a text message to the owner. She loves it! She feels connected to her dog when she is away, and she feels connected to me, and the care I am giving her dog. I think a similar kind of connectivity could really foster stronger bonds between parents and their childrens’ lives in school. I also think it could do wonders for building public understanding of day to day life in the classroom.
As far as interactivity goes, it would depend on the topic. If it is of a personal nature, pertaining to one child’s situation, this communication would be carried out through private channels, perhaps over the phone or through email. If was a topic pertinent to the class, or for organizing a community or parent-involved event, then using a form of public communication could do wonders to cut down on communication. In this case, depending on the kind of communication that was needed – soliciting opinions, organizing logistics, assigning volunteer duties, etc. would denote the type of interface that would be most useful – an online poll, a wiki, a discussion forum, etc.