How can a classroom web site improve communications with students, parents, and community? What is an acceptable use policy? What impact does it have on the use of the Web in the classroom?
I do not believe my thoughts on a classroom Web site is the popular thought. I do find merit in making use of the internet as a great tool for learning, but I do not find it necessary to have a personal Web site for each class. With that being stated, I do find advantages to the use of the Web site as an educational tool. As stated in the chapter, it is limited only by imagination.
The Web site will offer a communication route to the student, parents, and teacher. Many parents have access to the Web throughout the day and in the evening, and this could be a much faster communication system. It will also allow more up-to-date communication, because it is the most recent activity posted on the classroom Web site. A parent can be informed on what is being studied at all times; pretty close to being considered involved. There would be no “phone tag”, or future meetings on a problem that is taking place today.
There is also the possibility the results of a test, or classroom assignment, can be returned as soon as the “submit” button is pushed. It is often that a teacher does not return the graded papers as quickly as would be best for the student. This same idea of feedback is also important for the parent, and the teacher. Parents can more easily follow-up on a child’s progress, or lack thereof, if they can track this via the classroom Web site. The teacher will have a faster means to check for need to re-teach, if the assignment is graded immediately.
It will allow you to tailor the lesson(s) and mode of teaching to the various skill-levels of your students. The tools available are limitless. There is video, photographs, and written information available from government sites, other school districts sites, news media sites, and corporation sites. There is no need to spend countless hours developing tools. Now, it often takes hours to choose which information is best, but that is an entire chapter topic. These resources provide educational tools to the most financially deprived school districts and to every school with internet access.
With all of this information, it is imperative to develop a policy and guidelines for this Web site. While the policy may be the only “limit to imagination”, it is important that overuse or inappropriate use of information does not take place. I find that when you think you do not have to state a reasonable point, it is often then that you should. People do dumb things every day, and a classroom Web site is a very public arena that opens up a can of worms when misused. For the classroom, with so many people being able to access the site, it will be impossible to police to prevent problems.
IT 645 Final Reflection
14 years ago
I agree with you Adelle. I do not particularly care for a class website. I know that many high school students would rather print out the notes and then they do not listen in class. For many students writing down notes is a way of learning the material. Instead of printing out the notes that they may or may not read. As for the other things that a class website offers some are an advantage and others not. The podcast used an example of a student missing a month of school but was still on schedule because he or she kept up with the assignments through the web page. However, that student missed all the lectures and only learned enough to complete the projects. For me I would rather it be face to face learning.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your reflection and comments from your peer.
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