Technology Tools for Effective Communication | Origin: EL105
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Online Language: Communicating with Students --> Technology Tools for Effective Communication
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Use the right communication tools to stay connected with students and make online learning feel more personal and organized. By using Teams and Zoom to keep communication clear, hold quick check-ins, and make sure students always know they can reach me when they need help.
I use email and Zoom meetings mostly currently. Have not really had any problems.
Choosing the correct technology is important when communicating with students. Each type has its pros and cons. These need to be weighed for each situation to ensure that we communicate effectively.
In my experience, being able to choose the correct type of communication is an essential skill for this type of position. If I need to discuss something that is more time sensitive, I may not want to communicate through email because responses take time to go back and forth. I may instead choose to call the person and simply follow up with an email to summarize and document any important information that was discussed during the phone call. This allows the person to acknowledge the key points of discussion, accept any plan of action, or correct me if I misunderstood something.
Text messaging can also be a time saver, but I would only use this for casual check-ins, not formal discussions. Something text-worthy (for me) is something that either doesn't require a response or can be answered by the recipient with a short response. For lengthy conversations or important discussion, I always feel face-to-face is best. Too much can get misconstrued over text, email, and sometimes telephone interactions. I certainly agree that people receive messages and respond differently in an electronic/cyber space than they do in physical spaces, so we must use our best judgment to choose the best type of communication for each interaction and to achieve the desired outcome.
There are pros and cons to using online training tactics. It is the instructors responsibiltiy to use them wisely
When you are facilitating a course, having various types of technology available can help you reach more students. There are several Apps available now more than ever that will allow you to connect with your students and keep them engaged. These tools not only allow you to stay in contact with your students but also keep you in the know with new technology.
The biggest takeaway for me is function over features. I see a lot of implementations of tools. Once the tool is selected, people try to use ALL the tools ALL the time. Not every feature is necessary...or helpful. Often this creates a cognitive overload, especially when features are piled on...even when they don't serve the learning objective.
Reminded me as an instructor to be continually checking how tech comms are working, what might need improving, etc. in the formative stages, and not only summative.
I learned how different technology tools can improve clarity, engagement, and communication in an online course. I plan to apply this by choosing tools that enhance interaction, support student needs, and make communication more consistent and efficient throughout the course.
Communication is expected foremost from the faculty member. Students will get involved when they believe it is worth their time and effort.
While technology can make life and communication easier, it comes with some downsides. As instructors we need to ensure our communication is clear and consistence, so it does not become biased.
Formative assessments measure progress
When teachers need to assess how well students grasp concepts as the material is being taught, they administer formative assessments. Through these assessments, teachers can recognize where students need help, and then they can adjust their teaching to immediately address those problem areas.
This type of assessment creates a feedback loop between the student and the teacher so they can work together to improve learning.
Formative assessments are more flexible than summative assessments. To gather data, instructors can use student reflections, discussion sessions, homework, quizzes, and collaborative activities as formative assessments.
Summative assessments measure mastery
Summative assessments are given at the end of a lesson unit or course to measure students’ mastery of the standards. The most common types of summative assessments are end-of-unit or chapter tests, midterm exams, final exams, state assessments, portfolios of work, and research reports.
In contrast to formative assessments, summative assessments are high-stakes tasks. These are typically graded to tell you whether the student has learned the material. Such assessments are delivered too far down the learning path to be used in making instructional adjustments.
I think it is important to not only consider my barriers and what I need to learn from each platform but also look at the barriers and audience I need to present too
Staying abreast of most current technology can enhance communication and use formative and summative assignments.
Make sure that the technology is used appropriately and it is effective.
Technology is challenging, but the goal of such is to keep learning more accessible.
La importancia del uso correcto de las diferentes plataformas de comunicación con los alumnos debe ser eficiente. He tomado en cuenta estos puntos para poder darle más importancia al correo electrónico como parte fundamental del trabajo.
While there may be many ways to interact with students in the online environment, the correct type of technological tool must be able to provide a safe and effective way to communicate.
I learned about the different platforms there are and how we as instructors are able to set our students up for success.
