Communications through Technology: Building a Community
This class is composed of students in grades 8 through 10 who, I’m sure, have a wide range of abilities
when it comes to technology. The purpose of the class is to expose students to a variety of technology
and for students to become competent and responsible digital citizens.
In order to build an effective learning community with these students, I plan on using Brian Mull’s
suggestions of creating a “Digital Learning Farm.” The idea is that on a farm everyone has chores. These
chores ensure that the farm can run smoothly, develops maturity in the young chore completer, and
teaches practical life skills. Likewise, in my classroom, I intend to have students complete weekly
“chores.” While students complete these chores, they take on the responsibility of their own learning,
and in some cases, the learning of others. Students will have opportunities to determine what
technology is taught, teach one another, and potentially teach students around the world!
The following is a list of jobs and descriptions that I plan to use in the classroom.
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Researcher – Students spend time each week researching technology. Using Google and other
search engines, students explore what is out there. My goal is for students to find resources and
determine what will be beneficial for them to learn. In the beginning I may create a custom
search that directs them to educational websites, but as they become better acquainted with
the web, I may let them go further. I want them to decide what will be important for them to
learn. Beyond that, I want students to become the experts on what they find, so they in turn can
share their knowledge with their classmates.
Scribes - I love the idea of students collaboratively working on and sharing their notes. Surely
lecturing will never be completely eradicated from teaching, and note taking is a valuable skill.
Using technology like Google Docs or TitanPad offers a way to teach that skill while students
work together. Obviously you don't want the whole class doing this at once, but small groups of
students could take on this chore each week.
Tutorial Designers – After students research and become the experts on a specific type of
technology, they can then collaboratively create tutorials and teach the class. This can be done
on the iPad using the ScreenChomp or ShowMe apps, or this could be created on a computer
screen with Jing. The first few tutorial ideas that come to my mind are: how to do an internet
search, photo editing, or using Twitter. The possibilities are endless! The tutorials can then go
beyond our own class and out into the global community.
Another way I plan on building community is by using the Online Classroom that I am creating. As the
teacher I will have a main page where every assignment will be posted, along with example of student’s
work, pictures, and videos from the class. To encourage students to continually check the online
classroom there will be class polls, games, and scavenger hunts for which if they participate they will
receive fun little prizes in class. Each student will also have their own page where they will upload all of
their assignments and have a weekly blogs. Students will be encouraged to read and comment on one
another’s blog throughout the year. By the end of the year the student’s site will be like their own digital
portfolio demonstrating all of the skills that they have learned, and contain valuable feedback from their
peers.
With the use of this online classroom and by implementing student “chores,” students will feel
responsible for not only their learning, but also the learning of their classmates. I hope this will create a
community of learners who are excited to share with their peers the valuable information and
technology that they discover.