Section 2: Communications Plan

Communication is key when it comes to succeeding in all things, especially school and
the work place. In order to completely understand what is being taught and what is required
one must communicate to all those involved that way everyone is engaged, up to speed, and
working hard toward the set goals. In todays society communication is done more and more
with the use of technology due to its easy access and speedy responses when there is
something to be shared. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that future teachers such as I
come up with a plan of attack, if you will, on how to use technology to engage educational
community, technology use in the form of classroom communication, and keeping it safe for
those involved.
From website to text messages, thank to technology there are so many different means
of communication that can help children organize better with their classroom. These types of
different communication skills that I plan to use within my classroom have been developed to
engage students on how keep up with important notifications within my classroom using the
common technology that is used today. I plan on using a class website, e-mail, ClassDojo and
the RemindMe application as my main forms of communication with all those engaged in the
educational community associated with my future class. First of all a class website will be a
great resource for everyone on the educational community whether it be; students, parents,
fellow teachers, and whomever else is concerned with the happenings of my class. I will post
things like homework, important events, school year calendar, my contact information, as well
as student and parent resources. ClassDojo have a similar effect to online interactive point
systems, the student is given their own avatar, such as a cat representing one student while a
green monster represents another, identifying every individual student. Depending on the
student academic and social behavior within the day, the student is given or taken away

points. Parents will also love this tool because ClassDojo allows the parent to keep track of
how their child is doing in that class.
It is of the utmost importance to make sure there is an effective school-to-home and
home-to-school communication, which is why I will also have email and the RemindMe App
readily available as well (Using School websites, 2012). The RemindMe app is an important
essential for communicating with your students because a student can text a number and that
text can sign the student up for my class notification. This will ensure that the student will
receive notification update if they miss a day of school. The app will also tell a student when a
homework assignment is due. Most schools have special google mail accounts that are set up
for each student and teacher to use through their time in that school district. Emails accounts
for my students create a common ground for communication among the educational and
global community (Meij & Boersma, 2002). This is a helpful, useful, and a safe tool that I
plan on using for my students and me to communicate about things such as homework, makeup work, as well as group projects among my students.
A very important thing that I as a teacher must make sure of that all technology related
tools my students and I will use in the classroom are safe for all as far as privacy. I will have a
lesson at the beginning of the school year, educating my students on practicing safe
technology use. Not to mention I will monitor my students use on all websites and technology
device uses throughout the year making sure the practice of safe technology use is instructed.
Overall I want to make sure to make the technology use in my classroom safe, effective,
and fun means of education and communication. The use of Technology in the form of a class
website, text reminders, emails, and ClassDojo will keep my class social, fun and effective in
achieving my goal in supporting communication through technology in my future classroom.
References

Piper, T. (2012). Using school websites to support parent engagement. Leadership, 42(2),
36-38.
Social Media Tips for Educators: Developing Innovative Engagement in Your
Community. (2014). Education Digest, 80(3), 55-59.
van der Meij, H., & Boersma, K. (2002). Email use in elementary school: an analysis of
exchange patterns and content. British Journal Of Educational Technology, 33(2),
189.