E-Comunication in the Classroom:
Classroom Uses
Video Conferencing
iVisit

E-Comunication for the Teacher:
Distribution Lists
E-communication Options
Comparison Chart

Miscellaneous:
Databases in the Classroom
Equation Editor

Elsewhere on this site:
General Instructional Technology,
Presentation/Web,
Imaging,
Sound,
Video,
Home

 

General Educational Technology E-Communication Between Teachers - The Options

Connecting teachers to teachers is a serious goal of the Office for Instructional Technology. Since in this (as in most technologies), form follows function, we'll list some uses of discussion, and the best technology/format which could support it.

A word about email, and its potential over-use: It's easy to shy away from any method of communication which contributes to email traffic, since we have so much! However, email is quickly becoming the professional communications method, so it makes sense to get better at managing it. The beauty of many discussion formats, email or otherwise, is that they can be ignored temporarily, and attended to in your spare time, at home.

For a side-by-side comparison of how the various e-communications formats work, see the E-Communications - Some Details page.

• I want to regularly distribute information to a group of people. Personal Distribution Lists are your best bet - you set them up, you control them, and no one else can use them except you.
• I, and a few others, want to regularly distribute information to a group of people.  Global distributions are what you want. This is an email address listed in the Global Exchange listings, just like any other. When someone sends an email to it, it's forwarded automatically to all people who are listed there. Of course, if you're on such a distribution list, you cannot take yourself off!
• I want to discuss things with others. If you want it set up so everyone is on equal footing (any one of the members of a group of people is equally likely to distribute information to everyone), then  you're into the world of email discussion forums, often called LISTSERVs. These are very different from ordinary email addresses or distribution lists. They provide for a variety of different controls, security settings, and other niceties for discussion. Some great purposes for LISTSERVs:
  • classroom ideas between subject area specialists
  • school-wide discussions about discipline or other policy issues
  • sports or other fun discussion
• I want to discuss things with others, but I hate email. There are some choices here - LISTSERVs allow for a variety of delivery methods, including daily or weekly journals, which reduces email traffic. However, online forums - web-based threaded discussions - are completely email-free. The dark cloud inside that silver lining is that web forums tend to be ignored.
• I want to discuss things with others, and I want it private (or I want to control who can participate) . Both LISTSERVs and online forums can be set up this way. Of course, nothing is completely private - these are professional resources supplied by FCPS, and so there are checks built in. But LISTSERVs and online forums are very flexible about visibility and access. Check out the resource pages on LISTSERVs and online forums for details.
• I want to discuss things with others, and I want to keep a copy of what goes on. Again, both LISTSERVs and online forums can be set up this way, though online forums are designed for this.

For further help, contact me (see link at left).