Digital Blog Post #C - Chapters 3 &/or 8

           It may not take a village to raise a child anymore, but parents and teachers still play a vital role in the growth of the child.  Gone are the days of the 5-minute parent-teacher meetings in which it was expected to cover a semester worth of information on a child.  Susana Juniu published a research article on computer mediated parent-teacher communication (Juniu, 2009).  Technology tools such as Skype, online chats, text messaging, email, discussion boards, teacher-made websites, blogs, and wikis are widely used as efficient mediums to improve communication between teachers, parents, and students.  This is great at a time filled with so many broken families.  Both sets of parents can have open communication with the child's teacher and access to the child’s assignments, grades, etc.

The next concept I found interesting was Pencast.  This tool is a genius!  Pencast brings your notes to life.  You can hear and see them exactly as they were captured. This is a wonderful way to help students with homework without being with them.  It would also be great to help review for tests.  Below is a video explaining how it works.

Another concept of particular interest is publishing student work.  Publishing encourages students to focus on a completed, quality assignment.  It makes writing a social process where students exchange ideas among classmates as well as with readers around the world.  The number one advantage is feedback.  Students receive feedback not only from teachers at another school but possibly from authors.

In closing, the teacher has many ways to keep learning going beyond the classroom.  With all the technology available, homework can be as fun as the class.

References

Driver, L. (2016, May 28). Created using Wordle http://www.wordle.net/create

Juniu, S. (2009, December 15). Computer Mediated Parent-Teacher Communication. Revista Electrónica Actualidades Investigativas En Educación, 9(3), 1-19. Retrieved May 28, 2016, from http://www.redalyc.org/pdf/447/44713064012.pdf

Livescribe. (2011, April 15). Creating Pencasts For Lesson Review with Staci Gillen. Retrieved May 28, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRa1epTFcM8

Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2014). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.