Introduction

= The Concept = After the third class for EC&I 831 I wrote a blog posting about the novelty of technology in the classroom and how students feel about teachers using the technology that they use for social interaction in their classrooms. //"There is so much available out there for them to use that it is difficult to decide or learn to use many of the tools. They are familiar with Facebook and things like MovieMaker but when I ask them to use a new tool, they become confused and lost. The thing is, that most kids do not use Web 2.0 tools in their everyday lives. They use social networking tools and when you try to introduce social tools into the classroom, they act like we have walked into their bedrooms. It is hard for them to see that something that they use in their social lives can be used in the classroom and it is hard for them to let go of thinking that it is their’s. I think too that sometimes they find it uncomfortable that their teachers know and use the same networking tools that they do. It makes teachers human and gives them social lives, something that kids don’t think we have. Asking them to use Facebook at school and admitting that you know how to use it is now akin to seeing your teacher buying groceries (remember thinking “they eat food, weird?” I do.) I remember last year one of my students seeing me text after school one day exclaiming “whoa, Mrs. Stinson, you text?” So, social networking in schools is uncomfortable and web tools are unfamiliar, that leaves teachers with yet another task, making it comfortable and familiar. And if you are a teacher that is uncomfortable and unfamiliar, then you have a whole other situation on your hands." // ||
 * // "I would like to talk about novelty. I have always allowed my students to use iPods at school, in fact, I encourage it. I like that they have a little computer at their fingertips to help them with spelling or give them the answer to a burning question or give them their own private space to work. At first, I was like, the coolest teacher ever, there were iPods all over the place. Now they all have them and they don’t use them as much. When I give them the option of using some kind of Web 2.0 tool they just want to do a poster or if they are really adventurous, use PowerPoint. When I tell them that they are not allowed to make posters and only posters, they act like I cut their arm off. So why is this? apathy? laziness? Boredom? All of the above? My instinct is that in my school it is leaning more towards laziness and the difficulty of breaking them out of their “old school” ideas. (And I mean old school literally) We have relied on novelty to motivate students for a while now and it have come to the point where the market has become saturated. What do we do now that the novelty is wearing off?" //

Following that posting, I was reminded of a story that was on [|CBC news] about a Regina teacher who was being criticized for using Facebook in his classroom. I was intrigued by this story for two reasons; I went to University with the teacher and I have also used Facebook in my classroom. This made me think about how I communicate with my students. I alreadyhave two means of communication with my students. I have a [|classroom website] that has downloadable documents as well as a homework listing and other features. This year I also started a Wiki for all of the grade 7/8 students in my school so that they can all access resources and class material as we are all working on the same projects and learning material this year. This got me thinking about how much my students use these resources that I put a lot of time and effort into and what they would use more often. I decided to survey my students (see results here) and ask them what they use and what they would like to use. This lead to the concept of my project, "S-cool Communication".

== = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = The Project = To complete this project, I have asked student volunteers (and hopefully some parents) to use and give feedback on three different methods of communicating with them online. The first will be my [|classroom website]. This site is maintained by Regina Public Schools and has limited capabilities. I have been using this site at various schools for about 5 years. The second will be the Senior Eagles Wiki. This wiki is new to the students this year. The third will be a new school based Facebook account that will be maintained by me. I will be asking participants to give feedback on the usefulness and usability of each during the middle of the project and at the end. I will use this information to decide what method of communication will be most effective for my students and their parents. On this wiki I will record reflections, data, research and the results of my project.