Peek at the Tech TEKS Image

This week we will take a peek at Tech TEKS 2A.  Here is the “official” verbiage.

(2) Communication and Collaboration- The student collaborates and communicates both locally and globally to reinforce and promote learning. The student is expected to:

(A)  participate in personal learning networks to collaborate with peers, experts, or others using digital tools such as blogs, wikis, audio/video communication, or other emerging technologies;

This Tech TEKS can be addressed in a number of ways with tools that are readily available to you.

  • Skype in the Classroom: Skype in the Classroom is an easy (and FREE) way for your students to experience and make real world connections about what they are learning.  Spark questions, curiosity, and creativity, while extending the learning walls of your classroom.  Our October online PD option is over Skype.  Click here to learn more about this course and get started – Skype in the Classroom
  • Discussions in Canvas: If you haven’t started to utilize Canvas discussions with your class, consider jumping in.  This is a great, safe, controllable environment to have students start communicating with each other to share what they know and how they feel about topics of your choosing.
  • Nearpod: There is a built-in collaborate option found right within Nearpod.  It, once again, is safe and controllable.  Students can post to a digital bulletin board and like/comment on other posts within the board. (Nearpod subscriptions are coming soon to ALL secondary campuses).

When you and your students are ready to move farther along, you can start looking into using social media more in your classroom. Start off by creating a class account and posting updates and reminders for your students and parents.  Communicate with experts when you have questions about things you are learning.  This can also lead to great discussions about etiquette and online safety.  The more we can expose students to appropriate behavior when communicating, both in-person and online, the better the odds are that they will handle themselves in a professional manner when the opportunity arises.