Digital Age Communication and
Collaboration Tools
for Education
By: Jessica Ybarra
ETC645
How do digital communication tools allow students to demonstrate their strengths?
How do communication tools provide diverse learners a way to express themselves and learn with their peers?
The interent is used daily by almost every teacher in every school, in the majority of countires around the globe. With access to the interent more and more teachers are using this powerful resource to connect thier students to the world around them. Our current students are living in the digital-age of education where the technology skills they learn today will increase their success in their future careers that require digital literacy and the implementation of technology communication tools.
Please read pages 1-3 of K. Aho's article Teaching Digital Communication to All Students.
Aho K. (2005). Teaching digital communication to all students. The Journal. https://thejournal.com/Articles/2005/05/01/Teaching-Digital-Communication-to-All-Students.aspx?Page=2
What are communication and collaboration technologies?
Communication Tools: Communication tools allow people to share ideas, gain information, and have a conversations from various types of technology tools at any time or place. Communication in th education world can be in the forms of teacher-teacher, teacher-student, student-student, teacher-parent or student-parent. Students can also use these communciation tools to connect with people who are "experts" on the curriculum they are studying.
Collaboration Tools: Collaboration tools also allow students to have conversations and share ideas with peers and other learners from around the globe. Collaboration technology goes beyond just learenr-learner communication by providing students with the tools they need to share, modify, plan, and create projects/learning activities with students in their class, in a different state, or from aorund the globe.
Watch the video 21st Century ICT Education to learn about the communciation technologies that can be applied in our students everyday learning to prepare them with the skills that will promote their success in career goals.
What skills do communication tools teach students?
How will these skills lead students to better education and career oppertunities?
Flattening the Classroom Walls
Flattening the classroom walls refers to learning oppertunities that students have to learn from and with the world around them, not just from and with the people inside their classroom.
The Pearson Research and Innovation Network explains that
"Online tools allow educators to teach the collaborative skills students need in college and career as part of a global community. Teachers also find opportunities, inspiration, and support online to continue to improve their classrooms. Technology makes both types of collaboration faster and easier. And, with many different platforms available, online tools enhance the ever-expanding collaborative opportunities."
Please read the full article on Flattening the Classroom Walls on Pearsons website http://researchnetwork.pearson.com/learning-science/teaching-in-a-digital-age/collaboration
View how collaboration using technology tools inspire teachers to connect with other educators from around the world https://youtu.be/DWU8nhldvzk
Watch how collaboration tools prepare students with important life skills https://youtu.be/PCy-e1Dtr3Y
Pearson. (n.d.) Better collaboration and student grouping. Research and Innovation Network. http://researchnetwork.pearson.com/learning-science/teaching-in-a-digital-age/collaboration
Examples of Online Communication Tools for Teachers, Students, and Parents
Teachers can keep in contact with their students and parents using the communication tools Remind101, WDWDT, or Celly. http://instructionaltechtalk.com/3-digital-communication-tools-for-your-classroom/
http://www.emergingedtech.com/2014/05/20-excellent-free-tools-for-interactive-collaboration-experiences-in-the-classroom/ provides numorous examples of digital collaboration tools that can be integrated into any curriculum and inspire student interaction in the learning process.
