Blog entry 2: Integrating Instructional Technology

Introduction
Teachers are at the forefront of kids' educational experiences, and it's now incumbent on them,
as well as parents and school administrators, to provide children with the guidance and technical skills
they need to succeed in their connected future. ("Technology for Teaching: 10 Ways to Improve
Classroom Learning | Scott Steinberg," n.d.) Communication between teachers and parents are very
important. It can be very hard to communicate with the parent without todays technology.
("Communication Tools to Connect Your Classroom to the World: Remind | EVSC ICATS," n.d.) You
should implement a plan to be able to communicate with your students parents. Autistic children or
elementary students is will I will be working with. Teachers should use todays technology to be able to
communicate with students, parents and the community.

Google Docs
Google Docs is an internet tool teachers and students can use to create and share
documents, videos and so much more from anywhere. Google Docs is a web based word
processor program. It is also a spreadsheet and presentation program. It has been imperative to
incorporate technology into our classrooms these days. ("Communication Tools to Connect Your
Classroom to the World: Remind | EVSC ICATS," n.d.) Using shared content online, such as
google docs can help parents, teachers, and students to see what is going on in the classroom.
("Technology for Teaching: 10 Ways to Improve Classroom Learning | Scott Steinberg,"
n.d.)Students can post videos to their classmates or share materials for a class project they need
to do together through Google Docs. Parents can see what their child is doing in school and see
what projects their child needs to do. Teachers can put assignments to the class website or post
things their student needs to have for school such as homeworks, trip slips and so much more. I
plan on teaching the autistic support children. I will use this type of technology to keep my

students parents informed of what they are doing in the classroom and what they need for class.
The teacher will be able to get effective information from the parents also through Google Docs.
They can accept comment and make comments to parents and students on the work the student is
doing.
Google Maps:
Teachers can use the computer to allow the students to take a virtual field trip. ("Technology
Integration Strategies, Teaching Today, Glencoe Online," n.d.)The teacher or student can go to a
website such as the Library of Congress or the Smithsonian Institute ("Technology Integration
Strategies, Teaching Today, Glencoe Online," n.d.) and have a lesson on the exhibits they have
there with the use of the computer and the smart board. The teacher or student can also use a map
on any place in the world. The teacher can have a lesson on how Africa live and works or even
England or any country in the world. The teacher can have them use Google Maps to see the
country up close and personal. This may give the student appreciation on where they live. Some
people dont live as nice as America do. Then the teacher can also give an assignment for them to
do at home and the parent can see what they are doing in class.

Remind101.com App:
Remind101.com app is an application for the smart phone that is a safe and free way to text
message you parents and student to keep in touch with them. (Bobbit, Inman, & Bertrand, 2013,

p. 77) It doesnt give out the teachers phone number to the parents or students. The program give the
parents, students and the teachers a number to communicate with each other. The teacher cant get the
parents real phone numbers or students real number either. Teachers can text message their students or

parents. The messages can never get deleted. Teachers can send trip reminders, motivational messages,
homework assignments or exam reminders and more. It is like using your smart phone to talk with your
class and parents.

Reference
Bobbitt, R., Inman, R., & Bertrand, E. (2013). Using Remind 101 as a Classroom:
Communication Tool. NACTA Journal, 57(4), 77-78.

Communication Tools to Connect Your Classroom to the World: Remind | EVSC ICATS. (n.d.).
Retrieved from http://evscicats.com/blog/communication-tools-to-connect-yourclassroom-to-the-world-remind-101/

Holum, A., & Gahala, J. (2001, October). Critical Issue: Using Technology to Enhance Literacy
Instruction. Retrieved from
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/reading/li300.htm
Remind | Learn about easy, free and safe text messaging for teachers with Remind
(formerly Remind101). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.remind.com/learnmore

Technology for Teaching: 10 Ways to Improve Classroom Learning | Scott Steinberg. (n.d.).
Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-steinberg/technology-for-teaching1_b_2614699.html
Technology Integration Strategies, Teaching Today, Glencoe Online. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/subject/tech_integration.phtml