As part of the most recent developments in technology, our society is creating more ways for users to work anytime and anywhere, and these new tools are slowly finding their way into homes and classrooms around the globe. The use of online communication tools allows students to keep in touch with distant family members, experts in their field, and their peers. This technology is creating an avenue for the exchange of information between and among students and teachers, keeping classroom populations in touch with each other more than ever before. Online communication tools are easily adaptable to almost any teaching and learning environment, and indeed we are seeing an increase in classroom use of these types of programs. These programs make it simple for the students to move outside the walls of the classroom and connect with almost anyone around the world. The majority of these applications may be used from a computer, a cellular device with internet access, and some can be used from any cellular phone.
Online communication tools are found in many forms. Access to these tools gives the student an opportunity to experience learning in a multiple of ways. It does this by letting the student establish his/her own voice, connect with others from around the world, and compare their ideas with others. These applications allow the teacher to manage their own classroom activities outside of school hours through online communication via Twitter, online chat room, or instant messaging. This is a huge advantage for the instructor to be able to provide vital information about certain projects, due dates, or tests to multiple students at once.
Personally, I have not had any experience using an online communication device in my own classroom with the exception of a teacher website. The main reasons for me not using these tools is because of lack of exposure and knowledge of the applications. I did not want to get into a situation that I didn't feel very comfortable working in and especially where the students didn't feel comfortable. The first online tool that I heard of being used in the classroom was Twitter, where the teacher can provide brief messages to all students pertaining to certain assignments, due dates, projects, tests, and so forth. I think that this tool is very feasible for all teachers and students to use because of its simplicity. All users must set up their own free account and you're ready to start "Tweeting". This can easily be done simply by the teacher scheduling a day in the computer lab and walking every student through the steps in creating their own account to ensure that nobody has any problems and feels comfortable using the tool.
The first baby step I will take in applying an online tool into my classroom will be via Twitter. By using this, I can post important brief messages to all students concerning any classroom activity. Online tools provide such an opportunity for all students to learn in a nontraditional way. Online communication is certainly being viewed as the next best learning tool for the future.
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