Blog Post #13

In this blog post assignment, we were asked to create our own blog post assignment that we thought our instructor should have included in this course regarding our area of specialty. As an elementary education major, I think it is really important to focus on a parent-teacher relationship. It is important for elementary teachers to keep the parents informed and updated on what is going on in the classroom.

My blog post assignment question is:

What ways can teachers use technology to promote a parent-teacher relationship? Give 3 or more examples and explain why you as a teacher would use these certain devices, apps, or websites. Also, how would using this technology help keep your parents informed of what is going on in the classroom?

Links that can be used for this assignment:

Using Technology for Effective Parent-Teacher Communication

Using Technology to Enable Parent Teacher Communication

Learning With Technology Conference: Parents and Teachers Working Together

Technology

6 Tech Tools that Boost Teacher-Parent Communication

A Teacher's Guide to Communicating with Parents

Here is a list of tools you can use to enhance a parent-teacher relationship:

1. Swivl

The Swivl is a robot that uses your iPad to record your classroom lectures. It moves when you move, and it even knows to lift and tilt the iPad when you decide to bend down and work with a student individually. This device can be used to enhance a parent-teacher relationship by always keeping parents informed of what is going on in the classroom by letting them watch video recorded lectures. It gives the parent a "seat in the classroom." As a future educator, I would use this device to keep my parents updated on how we learn certain standards. A lot of parents have trouble with the common core. This device could watch this videos so that they could help their kids with the tricky math homework at home. This device could also be used to help students "make-up" work. If they missed a certain lecture, they could just go to the certain location that I have these files stored and watch the video. It's like they didn't even miss class. 

2. ClassDojo

The classdojo is a way to encourage positive classroom behavior. It also encourages a parent-teacher relationship by being able to inform parents of child behavior instantly. You can engage parents by easily communicating through class dojo's messaging system. It allows students to reflect on their own progress. The students can also create their own avatar when using classdojo, so this encourages creativity. As a future educator,  would use the ClassDojo to help encourage positive student behavior. We will also reflect on student's Dojo points weekly, and I will give a reward to the student with the most Dojo points. 

ClassDojo app for iTunes

ClassDojo app for Android

3. Dash4Teachers

Dash4Teachers gives us a deeper look into classroom behavior. It can be set aside for the more in-depth  conversations with parents regarding student behavior. Dash4Teachers requires a little set-up, but once you have downloaded individual student documents; you are set to go. You can then download the app, and start tracking student behavior. It also helps the teacher keep track of teacher-parent conversations. This would help keep parents on track with student-teacher interactions. As a future educator, I would use this to help document all my parent-teacher interactions regarding their child.