Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Teacher Website
As a mother of a busy 4th grader, I always find that having access to a teacher’s website is very helpful. That is, of course, if the teacher actually uses it to its fullest potential. As a parent I want concise information on what my child is doing in class so I can build upon that and help him build connections and more background knowledge related to what he is covering in school. I expect the teacher to keep her/his page up-to-date, in addition to having links to useful web resources and pdf files of the material he receives. Also, parents love pictures of what students are doing regardless of the grade level. It is also helpful to know the homework students have and the rules and expectations of the teacher. Sounds easy right? Well, what I mentioned before was what an involve parent expects. However, teachers are overworked and underpaid as it is and asking them to use extra time to create this type of website can get some teachers upset. I personally see this “time” investment as being worthwhile since it will pay off in the end. For example, a teacher can post weekly letters on the website as opposed to printing reams of paper and sending it home with the student. This eliminates wasted paper and time that the teacher can be using for other important things. In addition, it makes it easier for parents, caregivers and students themselves, to take responsibility of their own learning. The students’ assignments, projects and tests will be readily available, therefore, “I did not know” or “I forgot” will not be an excuse anymore. Another benefit is that by posting weekly assignments, the teacher will be creating continuity for students who live in more than one home during the week. Teachers can be as creative as they want with their websites. For example they can post questions on it and have the students answer them via e-mail for extra credit. This way the teacher will be encouraging students to go to the website and exposing them to experience alternate ways of learning.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I really enjoyed reading your post from the perspective of a parent! It is interesting to hear what your concerns are as a parent. I also know that sometimes parents can have many expectations of teachers, but you did a nice job of showing the positives of using websites as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you JoEllen! I guess when you are a teacher AND a parent you kind of see it both ways. I feel that we as teachers have to be strategic and purposeful about the website since we have multiple audiences. The parents, students, fellow teachers, administration...you name it! therefore we must a find a way to balance what is published in order to meer everybody's expecations. Isn't that what weekends are for? =)
DeleteXimena, the idea you propose of teacher's using a website to post students' assignment, projects and test on should, I feel, be recommended in all schools as an alternative to the established paper-based method that teachers use. The biggest problem with this paper based method is that the use of technology is not promoted but is instead used as an afterthought, possibly embedded in the homework. By building a website will be able to both synthesize the idea to parents that they can access homework and test grades from their own home as well as facilitate their own understanding of the possibilities found within this technology.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed Bill. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the use of this technology. However the key element, is to know your audience and post things that are relative to them. For example, the parents of the students I currently mentor in the city of Rochester, are not as interested to know what is in the curriculum of the students. But maybe providing information of free activities and services available to them might be more appealing. On the other hand, if you are teaching in a school such us HF-L, where the parents are a lot more involve, you might want to post detailed information of the expectations, curriculum, updated information on what is going on in the classroom and so on.
ReplyDeleteI feel technology is promoted in the districts, the problem is that there is no support t teachers as far as guidance on what can they do with such technology.