Blog 9
I chose Slack from Mr. Wang's communication tools because I think it provides a great opportunity to be in contact with both parents and students. Slack is an app that allows for easy access to communication through messages, group chats, or one-on-one chats.
Slack offers many great amenities by having a resource that connects people in a terrific way by being both flexible and inclusive. Slack has message alerts similar to text messages, it is an app so it can be downloaded to any smart device as well.
Ease of Use
Slack is a super simple tool to get the hang of anyone who has a modern smartphone that deals with texting, group chats, or works with channels can easily see the information being presented. One can open the channels one at a time as if they were a text message and shoot back replies. People can also share links, plan meetings, and have easy access to group communication. Each person has access to search to message an individual or find a given channel to join in on the news feed.
Great Tutorial Video:
Versatility
Slack has great versatility in the terms of being available to anyone who has a smart device and is capable of downloading an app. From there I think it does a fantastic job of keeping everyone in touch because of the way it has alerts and reminders for important times or dates. As of right now, my principal at my placement school uses this fairly often because he does post things like morning meeting dates and times, pizza parties, certain classroom parties, basically any small reminder. Honestly, I find this way more useful than email reminders because it can be difficult sifting through and finding exact emails whereas this is a quick alert I can find immediately. I would love for parents to have access to a certain channel that reminds them of important upcoming events at the school. I think it just provides an additional chance for them to notice or be reminded of what is happening.
Likelihood of using it
This tool would be one I would definitely use depending on the class or grade level I am teaching. If I was in an older class that all had access to technology I would send students reminders of upcoming events as well as reminders to complete readings or homework. As for a younger classroom, I would use it for the same ideas but to be in a message with parents I have seemed to notice that parents are very bad at acknowledging emails or responding and would hope this alternative tool would yield better results.
Connections to the course
Slack connects to the 7 events framework by presenting the content, gaining attention, and providing feedback. Slack presents the content by being able to send assignments or send information regarding any upcoming events. Along with that, it does a good job of gaining attention because the app provides alerts and gives reminders until the message is opened. The last part is providing feedback is simple on Slack because it is like a text message so a teacher or peer would be able to send immediate messages back and forth. Slack can additionally connect with the TLC frameworks T1 and T2 by being able to plan and assess. I think Slack is most effectively used with T1 planning because that's the way I would envision using it to get out my information ahead of time. The second stage of T2 assessing could be used to reflect where students need to fix assignments or address in sort of classroom issues.
Hi Beau,
ReplyDeleteI agree that this technology is best suited for older students, like middle or high school. It is a really easy and quick way to keep good communication, especially during covid. I really like your idea to use this with the parents for the elementary level. You could send out reminders and post important documents. This would be really helpful because you can't always rely on first graders giving every paper to their parents.