Digital Blog Post K: Chapter 6

Here are the three most interesting concepts I learned from chapter 6:

1. Information Alerts, e-Newsletters, and RSS Feeds
2. Taking Virtual Field Trips
3. Interactive Videoconferencing

Information alerts are one of the most useful technological concepts, especially when it comes to school, since teachers can send emails to students.  Depending on the programs that schools are utilizing, teachers can send emails to students to alert them when an assignments due dates are approaching or if there has been any sudden changes to the curriculum.  I remember how frustrated some teachers would be when they were trying to contact students to let them know about changes made to assignment and failing to contact them in time, but thanks to email alerts I see those type of problems slowly diminishing.  Most of the online community implemented in schools require students to log-in at least once a day to check for updates, so students really can no longer use the excuse that they were not informed, because it is now part of their job to always check emails for alerts.

The concept of virtual field trips without a doubt sounds innovative and convenient as students would no longer have to go physically to their destination but just observe online, however, to me that takes out some of the fun students can have in school.  A teacher can tell you take an online field trip to the beach and to just take notes of what you see, but then again your not getting the fullest benefits from the experience as you are only utilizing one of you senses which is sight, but if you went to the actual beach you could be utilizing all of them.  The whole point of a field trip is to feel the sense of wonder and excitement that comes along with it, as you are experiencing something from the usual norm.  I can only see that an online-field trip could be beneficial if was something like observing a phenomenon in another country or observing something we cannot physically go to, but otherwise students should always be given to opportunity to experience something new.

Interactive videoconferencing is something that is also a very convenient tool for schools and families to utilize nowadays, as we can speak to people as we would do physically but without the stress of trying to make time to go and visit, or set up an appointment with someone.  Sometimes in schools teachers need to have a conference with the parent, but due to the nature of both parties sometimes having a busy schedule can always be frustrating, and it only makes matters worse when the progress of the student is in question.  Thanks to interactive conferencing teachers and parents can now have the benefits of a physical conference without having to work it in their daily schedule, and can discuss matters with each other in the relaxed comfort of their home.

Tackk: https://tackk.com/j0xf1f

References:
 Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Garza, R. (November 15, 2015) Websites created with Tackk. https://tackk.com/home