Communication Plan

Randy Ragland
http://rragland.weebly.com/
EDU 225
March 7, 2015
Professor Jen Goodwin

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Introduction
Technology is essential to our lives today in many reasons. In addition to making several
aspects of daily life easier, technology also allows us to educate ourselves and connect ourselves
with the global community at greater levels. As educators, it is important to establish plans on
when, how, and why we use technology in our classroom. When it comes to our students, the
two most influential groups in a students ability to be successful is the teacher and the parent.
Having the ability to use technology as a communication aid is essential to promoting and
communicating expectations, problems and solutions, and also expanded learning opportunities
for the student, teacher, and parent alike.
Technology to Enhance Communication
Skype (Video Conferencing): The possibilities to enhance student learning as well as the
communication between parent and teacher is endless with this technology. Skype allows a
teacher or her classroom to be able to video conference with other users any time and in any
setting in which there is access to the internet. For the teacher who uses it to enhance her
students learning, not only do their students have the ability to communicate with experts in the
areas in which they are studying, but it also can serve as geographic and cultural lessons for the
students as well (Phthisic, 2014). Teachers and parents can have better communication through
the use of Skype because it allows parents and teachers to arrange conferences without having to
meet in person and also allows the conferences to be more flexible as far as location goes. Being
able to communicate with the parents about a students strengths and weaknesses in a timely
manner is crucial to student success.
Information Now (Online Gradebook): Two of the biggest words floating around in the

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education world today are accountability and efficiency. When the teacher is able to conquer
both of these areas student success is the likely outcome. Online grade books, such as
Information Now allows a better and immediate connection between the parent, student, and
teacher anytime and anywhere. The largest disconnect between the parent/student and teacher
seems to occur when an issue with a student arises and when it is addressed. Waiting until
progress reports or report cards go out can sometimes be too late to improve student success in
courses (Baffile, 2006). Online grade books allow the parent and student to view grades,
assignments, and even absences or behavioral issues as soon as they happen rather than waiting
for conference or report card time.
Live Binder (Digital Portfolio): When teachers, their students, and the parents of their
students are connected and have clear forms of communication the results are tenfold. Studies
have shown that when teachers, students, and parents are collaborating and communicating on a
regular basis the students are likely to have better attendance, better performance in school, and
are more likely to graduate and avoid absences and discipline issues (NSPRA, 2011). One of the
easiest and most efficient ways for this to happen is through programs such as Live Binder. Live
Binder allows teachers to post things such as assignments, rubrics, expectations, calendars, and
reminders for the students and the parents. This makes an easy go to option for students who still
have questions about assignments and want to know what is expected, and also allows parents to
be aware of upcoming assignments and events in their childs classroom.
Delicious (Social Bookmarking): Most of the time when a teacher comes across something
interesting or that could be helpful for instruction, they normally bookmark the site on their
computer. While this is nice for future reference, accessing these bookmarks are restricted to the

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computer on which the sites were accessed. Social bookmarking websites such as Delicious take
this one step further. Delicious allows educators and students alike to save helpful resources and
network these sites to others (Ruffini, 2011). The benefits to this type of networking is endless
and includes teachers having a more diversified amount of information on the topics they are
teaching, and also the ability for students to access websites that they may have used in class or
could be helpful to the students learning in and out of the classroom.

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Communication Internet Security and Safety

While the internet opens a lot of doors for enhancing student education, it also opens the
doors to the possibility of security and safety issues. One of the primary topics that I will
address with my students before is what information should and should not be shared on the
internet. As teachers we have protocols for our students when theyre in our classrooms as far as
what to do in case of fire, tornado, or armed intruder and we should be educating our kids in the
same way regarding internet usage. On the internet our students may come across predators, and
cyber criminals and having the tools to deal with these issues should be a requirement for using
technology in education (DeFranco, 2011). The next security and safety issue that I will address
deals with the issues that arise for the students use of technology and the internet verses others
they may come across. While the internet can make research easier on the student, it can alos
allow the students the temptation to get off task or distracted by less educational options the
internet provides. Student expectations when using technology should be addressed before the
technology is used in order to prevent possible discipline issues that may arise (Frazier, 1995).
The last issue about security and safety that I plan on addressing with my students is the topic of
plagiarism and copyrights. When student access the internet not only can they find information
on any topic they can think of to learn more about, but they can also access essays for sale and
the easy option of creating a copy and paste essay (Lathrop, 2000). Plagiarism is not only
detrimental to the students learning, but it also involves stealing someone elses ideas or work
and claiming them as their own. Allowing this to happen during the k-12 education can
ultimately cause students to dishonest and unethical during college or workplace experiences as
well. While all of these options are ideal for the teacher to address with the student in the

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classroom, it is just as important that the parents are on board with internet safety not just in the
classroom but at home as well. Students are less likely to be monitored as well when accessing
the internet at home so providing parents with tools to keep their children safe as well as
educating them on the possible safety and security issues is crucial.
Concluding Paragraph
Technology was created with the goal to enhance and simplify everyday life. Expanding this
into the field of education should be no different. With all the resources available, not being able
to find time to call and email parents on a daily basis can become a minute point. There are
several options available that allow parent, teacher, and student to be connected no matter the
time or location. For the parent that works odd hours and can never make conferences, there are
options to connect with the teacher. For the teacher that is frustrated with the ability to
communicate expectations and assignments with parents to help improve their students success,
there are options available. With the technology available there is the ability to finally build a
bridge over the gap that has existed between parent and teacher known as communication.

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References
Baffile, Cara. "Online Grades Provide Access and Accountability."Education World:. Education
World, 10 Nov. 2006. Web. 08 Mar. 2015.

DeFranco, JoAnna. "Teaching Internet Security, Safety in Our Classroom."Techniques:

Connecting Education and Careers 4th ser. 86.5 (2011): 52-55. Http://library.gcu.edu.
ERIC, May 2011. Web. 7 Mar. 2015.

Frazier, Max K. "Caution: Students on Board the Internet." Caution: Students on Board the
Internet 2nd ser. 53.2 (1995): 66.Http://library.gcu.edu. Educational Leadership, Oct.
1995. Web. 7 Mar. 2015.

Lathrop, Anne, and Kathleen E. Foss. "Student Cheating and Plagiarism in the Age of the
Internet." Student Cheating and Plagiarism in the Age of the Internet (2000):
18. Http://library.gcu.edu. Libraries Unlimited, 2000. Web. 7 Mar. 2015.

National School Public Relations Association (2011). National Survey

Pinpoints Communication
Preferences in School Communication.

Phthisic, Cindy. "A Window on the World: Using Skype in the Classroom."A
Window on the

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World: Using Skype in the Classroom. LEARN NC, 2014. Web. 08 Mar.
2015.

Ruffini, Michael F. "Classroom Collaboration Using Social Bookmarking Service

Diigo (EDUCAUSE
Quarterly) | EDUCAUSE.edu." Classroom Collaboration Using Social
Bookmarking Service Diigo (EDUCAUSE Quarterly) | EDUCAUSE.edu.
Educause, 27 Sept. 2011. Web. 08 Mar. 2015.