3.7 Communication & Collaboration
Candidates utilize digital communication and collaboration tools to communicate locally and globally with studnets, parents, peers, and the larger community. (PSC 3.7/ISTE 3g)
Artifact:
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Reflection:
These artifacts include a link to my school website, images of the school website, and images as evidence of my Edmodo use. These artifacts were developed in conjunction with my teaching throughout the school year to assist in communication with students, parents, peers as well as with the larger community. My contribution to these artifacts was the research, planning and design of the website, its contents and use of Edmodo. I then provided the instruction and facilitation of their implementation within my classroom and with parents. I have additionally used Edmodo as a tool to more effectively communicate with my peers and larger community by setting up groups to share resources and have ongoing discussion about them.
The artifacts demonstrate my ability to use digital communication and collaboration tools to communicate locally and globally. Both the website and Edmodo artifacts demonstrate the effective use in local communication in providing up-to-date news and information and important links for students, peers and community. The website provides announcements, important curriculum information, the course syllabus, helpful links such as to Edmodo and Quizlet for vocabulary development in each unit and more. The various Edmodo classroom groups I have established allow for frequent communication with students and their parents, and collaboration opportunities between students. Globally, Edmodo allows a tremendous opportunity to connect with teachers from around the world through communities selected based on my interests, such as the Science Edmodo Community. This has enabled me to share and receive ideas and resources to support science education through that powerful network, with links to handouts and web resources.
The artifacts demonstrate my ability to communicate with students and parents. The announcements using both the website and Edmodo provide two options for students and parents as a source of information, frequently used links, and a link to the school website is included. Curriculum information and the syllabus do not changed through the year, and the website provides quick access to that important information for students and parents. Edmodo provides a place to effectively communicate “real-time” with students and provide ongoing instructions with assignments, due dates via the Edmodo calendar and share resources via links on posts. Resources may be saved in my Edmodo library and in student backpacks for ongoing sharing and collaboration. Parents have access to Edmodo through their student account and can view the calendar for due dates and alerts. Students can receive assignments, watch linked videos and study web resources and turn in assignments all on Edmodo, an ideal arrangement when instruction in a “flipped” environment is desired, which provides us more class time for lab work. Edmodo has been such a fabulous communication and collaboration tool in this regard.
The artifacts demonstrate my ability to communicate with peers and the larger community. I have established and participate in Edmodo groups with my peers for the purpose of communication, collaboration and the sharing of resources. For example we have an iPad Edmodo Group for teachers at our school using iPads and we link resources we’ve found helpful and share ideas. While our teachers use email frequently, Edmodo allows the resources we share to be included in our libraries to be used later and shared with others, including students. The Edmodo Communities have enabled me to access tremendous information on current trends and resources and collaborate virtually with educators outside my classroom. For example the Discovery Education Network (DEN) Community not only provides up-to-date information from the DEN organization, but allows me to communicate via posts with other teachers who are using their resources in their classrooms and view their thoughts and ideas.
Through the creation of this artifact I learned about webpage design and Edmodo for the purpose of improving communication and collaboration with various groups. I have learned more about powerful Edmodo tools that can transform the way we teach. I have additionally learned the value of providing communication options to students and parents depending on the information that is being communicated or needed. What I would do differently to improve this artifact would be to be to provide greater clarity to students and parents at the start of the year on the use of both the website and Edmodo, and how the two complement one another. Additionally, I would improve my communication with teachers on the power of professional development using the Edmodo Communities. I have done training on Edmodo at my school, but there needs to be ongoing coaching on its use as well as training for new teachers or those beginning with it.
The work that went into creating this artifact will positively impact student learning and faculty development. As communication and collaboration improves between me and my students and between students, the students are better able to reach their full learning potential. This occurs as important information is clarified and resources are shared and students use these platforms for collaboration. This student learning results in an increase in student achievement, as assessed via completion of the various formative assessments, unit exams, end-of-course exams and the CRCT. As student performance is increased school improvement is also positively impacted. In our school student performance is a part of each year's School Improvement Plan (SIP), and it is assessed looking at the overall results of high-stakes tests such as the CRCT and the ITBS. Faculty development occurs in the use of Edmodo sharing groups and Edmodo Communities that assist teachers in gaining ideas in instructional tips, strategies and resources to apply in their own classrooms. Also teachers benefit from the dialogue with teachers in those groups or communities. This faculty development can be assessed via staff surveys and observations done through our formal evaluation process.
The artifacts demonstrate my ability to use digital communication and collaboration tools to communicate locally and globally. Both the website and Edmodo artifacts demonstrate the effective use in local communication in providing up-to-date news and information and important links for students, peers and community. The website provides announcements, important curriculum information, the course syllabus, helpful links such as to Edmodo and Quizlet for vocabulary development in each unit and more. The various Edmodo classroom groups I have established allow for frequent communication with students and their parents, and collaboration opportunities between students. Globally, Edmodo allows a tremendous opportunity to connect with teachers from around the world through communities selected based on my interests, such as the Science Edmodo Community. This has enabled me to share and receive ideas and resources to support science education through that powerful network, with links to handouts and web resources.
The artifacts demonstrate my ability to communicate with students and parents. The announcements using both the website and Edmodo provide two options for students and parents as a source of information, frequently used links, and a link to the school website is included. Curriculum information and the syllabus do not changed through the year, and the website provides quick access to that important information for students and parents. Edmodo provides a place to effectively communicate “real-time” with students and provide ongoing instructions with assignments, due dates via the Edmodo calendar and share resources via links on posts. Resources may be saved in my Edmodo library and in student backpacks for ongoing sharing and collaboration. Parents have access to Edmodo through their student account and can view the calendar for due dates and alerts. Students can receive assignments, watch linked videos and study web resources and turn in assignments all on Edmodo, an ideal arrangement when instruction in a “flipped” environment is desired, which provides us more class time for lab work. Edmodo has been such a fabulous communication and collaboration tool in this regard.
The artifacts demonstrate my ability to communicate with peers and the larger community. I have established and participate in Edmodo groups with my peers for the purpose of communication, collaboration and the sharing of resources. For example we have an iPad Edmodo Group for teachers at our school using iPads and we link resources we’ve found helpful and share ideas. While our teachers use email frequently, Edmodo allows the resources we share to be included in our libraries to be used later and shared with others, including students. The Edmodo Communities have enabled me to access tremendous information on current trends and resources and collaborate virtually with educators outside my classroom. For example the Discovery Education Network (DEN) Community not only provides up-to-date information from the DEN organization, but allows me to communicate via posts with other teachers who are using their resources in their classrooms and view their thoughts and ideas.
Through the creation of this artifact I learned about webpage design and Edmodo for the purpose of improving communication and collaboration with various groups. I have learned more about powerful Edmodo tools that can transform the way we teach. I have additionally learned the value of providing communication options to students and parents depending on the information that is being communicated or needed. What I would do differently to improve this artifact would be to be to provide greater clarity to students and parents at the start of the year on the use of both the website and Edmodo, and how the two complement one another. Additionally, I would improve my communication with teachers on the power of professional development using the Edmodo Communities. I have done training on Edmodo at my school, but there needs to be ongoing coaching on its use as well as training for new teachers or those beginning with it.
The work that went into creating this artifact will positively impact student learning and faculty development. As communication and collaboration improves between me and my students and between students, the students are better able to reach their full learning potential. This occurs as important information is clarified and resources are shared and students use these platforms for collaboration. This student learning results in an increase in student achievement, as assessed via completion of the various formative assessments, unit exams, end-of-course exams and the CRCT. As student performance is increased school improvement is also positively impacted. In our school student performance is a part of each year's School Improvement Plan (SIP), and it is assessed looking at the overall results of high-stakes tests such as the CRCT and the ITBS. Faculty development occurs in the use of Edmodo sharing groups and Edmodo Communities that assist teachers in gaining ideas in instructional tips, strategies and resources to apply in their own classrooms. Also teachers benefit from the dialogue with teachers in those groups or communities. This faculty development can be assessed via staff surveys and observations done through our formal evaluation process.