4C's of 21st Century Learning: Communication

Open Letter to Educators:

 -- Let's look at  iPad and web-based apps for communication!

 Safely text students and parents using Remind 101. This web-based tool allows teachers to send mass text messages to anyone who joins their "class." Teachers can set message to send at a future time and date and can download the Remind 101 app for iphone/iPad to send message form their mobile device rather than going online.

Create a Blogspot like this one to provide parents and students instant access to your course content. Use the Blogger app to update your blogspot page from your mobile device.

Blogspot allows teachers to embed multiple modes of communication and messaging. Embed your Twitter feed, Youtube channel, Prezi presentations, Classroom calendars, or link Google forms. This is a much more robust one-stop shop for students and parents than our current classroom websites!



In addition to Blogspot, Google also provides opportunities for students to collaborate and communicate through Google Docs, Spreadsheets and presentations. Now that all students in the Mounds View school district have a MV Gmail account, teachers can share classroom calendars with students.  Every iPad must have the  Google App, which grants access to everything google has to offer.



Additionally use the Google Translate app to communicate via e-mail with parents who speak English as a 2nd Language. Easily translate words and phrases between more than 60 languages.  The web-based version of Google translate is available through the "More" drop-down menu in your MV Gmail.






Allow students to communicate through a backchannel discussion. A backchannel is everything going on in the room that isn't coming from the presenter. It's where people ask each other questions, pass notes, get distracted, and give you the most immediate feedback you'll ever get.  Tapping into the backchannel lets you tailor and direct your presentation to the audience in front of you, and unifying the backchannel means the audience can share insights, questions and answers like never before.

 Encourage students to follow you or your classroom on Twitter. Students can tweet your learning target for the day or use a hashtag to create a backchannel discussion on your lesson. Twitter is an excellent way to generate excitement by tweeting links to relevant and interesting articles, videos, or images that students can check-out at their leisure.




Use TodaysMeet to embrace the backchannel and connect with your students in realtime. Encourage your class to use the live stream to make comments, ask questions, and use that feedback to tailor your presentation, sharpen your points, and address audience needs.