Tara Wheatley

April 18, 2015

Instructor Biba

EDU225

In today’s modern classrooms, the instruction and teaching techniques have made drastic improvements. Past classrooms relied on mainly textbooks, note taking, and paper tests. Today the idea of class room instruction has been replaced with digital textbooks and readers, white boards, and global interaction. Global communication in classrooms is now at rapid growth. Communication between students, parents, and the global community can be successfully achieved by the use of modern technology.

The most important key in such a successful classroom is communication .good communication changes the way students interact with each other. Technology will enhance how students communicate with the world around them. They can access the classroom web site to participate in discussions and gain homework information. They can also review class lessons as well as play games to refresh and sharpen up their skills via interactive web sites. Establishing a forum or setting up email interaction helps the students to send and receive important messages, and ask questions to teachers. This is all part of keeping students involved with technology in order to run an efficient well informed and involved classroom. As students become more advanced with technology it is vital that teachers are able to stay informed. The teacher must decide which devices and instruments are available and which works best for students to become more involved.’’ Technology integration in schools should enhance instruction by allowing and empowering students to construct their own meaning and use their prior knowledge’’, (Richards, 2005). Most students have at least one form of technology that they are more familiar with. Figuring out what device works most in each classroom will empower students to becoming more involved and successful. Email, texting, and blogging are available helping everyone stay connected.

Parents play important roles in education, by being able to communicate with teachers. Parent involvement changes the outcome of overall success rates.’’ Parental beliefs are likely to be influenced by teacher-parent communication’’, (TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning Date: November 1, 2013). Having ways to share students work, involve parents in assignments, and keeping them informed with progress is most important. Sometimes parents do not realize the options they can choose through technology to communicate. Parent’s lack of involvement has mainly caused by miscommunication. With conflicting schedules emails and virtual conferences can now take place in conferences. Text and email are also available for talking to teachers one on one. Parents can gain access to the classroom blog or websites, asking questions, getting answers, and gaining knowledge of upcoming events. By keeping parents at the forefront of technology, communication improves.
The global community is now also an important piece of collaboration inside classrooms. Teachers can now interact with other classes and even participate in virtual field trips. This amazing part of technology can enhance lessons and add positive views for students. They can visually be able to see more insight; this is all possible with the use of technology. Studies indicate the obvious that ‘’the concept of multi- cultural education must teach learner to recognize ,accept, and appreciate all differences including cultural ,ethnic, social class ,religious, and gender’’,( Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin October 15, 2002). Having more understanding for students about the global community is possible through technology. This can bring unity and peace as well as understanding and acceptance globally.
After all, the world is becoming advanced with endless possibilities in technology. As we step into the virtual word we need to understand what works effectively in communication. Being more aware of what works best enhances overall classroom success. With technology communication between parents, teachers, and global community is now successful.

Resources
http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=91587612&site=ehost-live&scope=site
(American Psychological Assoc.)
Olmstead, C. (2013). Using Technology to Increase Parent Involvement in Schools. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 57(6), 28-37. doi:10.1007/s11528-013-0699-0
http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=100204115&site=eds-live&scope=site

(American Psychological Assoc.)
Andrei, E. (2014). Digital Technology in Three Middle School ESL Language Arts Classrooms. TESL Reporter, 47(1/2), 35-50.
http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=85178218&site=eds-live&scope=site

(American Psychological Assoc.)
Xiaoqing, G., Yuankun, Z., & Xiaofeng, G. (2013). Meeting the “Digital Natives”: Understanding the Acceptance of Technology in Classrooms. Journal Of Educational Technology & Society, 16(1), 392-402.