Using Generative Tech Tools in the Classroom

One way I thought to use wikis in the classroom was to interact on keep in touch with parents at least once a week and throughout the day (if necessary and possible). I see wikis as an interactive way for parents to become more involved in the school day. For parents who have access to the internet throughout the day, it would a wonderful way for parents to communicate with the students and myself. Using wikis, I would hope that parents would be more likely to be informed. Also, wikis would allow the students and me to get information from outside sources. For example, the class could post a question and ask for answers from parents and other trusted sources.

One specific instructional use for wikis could be group book report projects. I was thinking that I could assign a group of no more than four students to read the same book. I would divide the book into four sections and allow the students to choose the section that they would become an expert on. Although the students would be required to read the entire book, they would also be required to write and post their findings on their assigned section of the book.

I thought to use blogs similar to the way I would use wikis. However, with blogs, I would use a blog as more of a way to keep my parents informed and updated on classroom happenings. If possible I could also let students develop blogs where they could post works and other school related activities. This would allow parents to see their children’s work and again hopefully will help parents be more informed and updated on classroom activities. As stated in class, blogs could be used for homework postings, announcements, and other important postings. I am thinking this would reduce extraneous papers that are often sent home. In this way, parents, especially those with consistent internet access could access needed information at any time. Also, for parents who are busy and or less likely to come in for traditional conferences, blogs could be used to conduct informal meetings and again, keep busy parents informed without the sometimes extra duty of physically visiting their child’s school. Not that I am a opposed to face-to-face meetings between parents and teachers, but knowing the busy schedules of many parents and teachers and also being aware of the conflict that can arise between the two parties, I think blogs would be a good alternative to such issues.

An instructional way to use blogs would be to allow students to have e-pen pals at other locations. I would hope to find another teacher in the same grade level and have our students write to each other using blogs. For one, this method is much quicker than traditional mail and I am thinking will allow the students to develop more meaningful relationships with their pen pal because contact with one another will be more frequent and hopefully more relevant. Student cannot only discuss personal issues, but also if the students are studying the same topic, they can share ideas.

Although I do not know the practicality and appropriateness of webcams as related to generative technologies, I was thinking that perhaps webcams could be used to again give parents insight to what happens in this classroom. I am guessing that webcams could present an array of privacy and protective concerns, but I am thinking is done discretely and in a way that strictly protects the students and only allows authorized individuals (i.e. parents) to access the footage would be a good way to keep parents informed and allow a more interactive home and school atmosphere.