Thing #6: Communication

I still remember AOL Instant Messenger being an essential part of my being when I was growing up. I remember the awful sound of dial-up as your computer connected to the internet. Back then, I thought it was the best thing ever and there was no way that anything better would ever exist.

It’s funny how time and experience really change your perspective and expectations. AOL Instant Messenger seems like something that existed 100 years ago. With the integration of Social Media and messaging, our lives are constantly becoming more and more connected.

Today, living half way around the world is not nearly as scary or intimidating as it used to be (in my opinion, thanks to technology). I’m able to call and see my family and friends regularly thanks to a number of applications or resources which make communication much easier.

I used to use Skype quite frequently, however, in recent years, I find myself rarely using it. I find that I am relying more on FaceTime or WhatsApp for video communication. For that reason, I decided to take some time to explore and reconnect with Skype for this Thing.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a lot of changes to Skype. Firstly, I found the appearance to be much cleaner and clearer. Secondly, I liked the ability to make group calls and create group chats. This was a feature that I often felt was lacking. I also liked that you had the ability to make either a video call or a normal call.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised to discover all of these changes, but still feel like Skype is becoming a slightly outdated resource. I still prefer the other platforms with which I have become more comfortable and familiar in recent years.

LinkedIn Experience

I have used LinkedIn for many years. I love how easy it is to connect with professionals from all over the world. I’ve been able to make many great connections over the years, many of which have created new professional opportunities for me.

Not only is it an excellent place to make great professional connections, but it is also a great environment to share ideas and experiences–essentially, to collaborate with others.

For example, I was able to find this great resource from another teacher to help improve my students’ fluency. I commented on the usefulness of this video, which then connected me with other resources which I might find helpful.

ISTE Standards/CITW 9:

1. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership: Using these platforms allows teachers to interact with people all over the world in a time and cost-efficient way.
2. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity: Using these platforms will give students ideas of new ways to use technology, both for educational and personal purposes. With the variety of platforms and uses available, students are encouraged to find personalized ways of using them.
3. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility: When communicating in a virtual manner, it is essential that all students understand and follow the expectations for online citizenship. Using backchannel chats and video conferencing technology is an excellent way to reinforce these skills.
4. Cooperative Learning: Using things like Google Hangout or Chatzy encourages students to work together and exchange ideas.