Teaching Electronic Communication

Tech Tip Tuesday (September 12, 2023)

After all, this is an email newsletter.

✏️Teaching students about electronic communication is essential in today's digital age.

Here are a few reasons why it is important:

1. Digital Literacy: Electronic communication skills are a crucial component of digital literacy. By teaching students how to effectively communicate online, you are equipping them with the skills needed to navigate and thrive in the digital world. This includes understanding proper online etiquette, privacy and security measures, and responsible use of technology.

2. Real-World Relevance: Electronic communication is a prevalent form of communication in various aspects of life, including education, work, and personal relationships. By teaching students how to communicate effectively in an online environment, you are preparing them for future academic and professional endeavors.

3. Collaboration and Networking: Electronic communication allows students to collaborate with peers, experts, and professionals from around the world. By teaching them how to communicate electronically, you are enabling them to connect, share ideas, and collaborate on projects beyond the boundaries of their physical classroom.

4. Global Perspective: Electronic communication provides students with the opportunity to interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures. This exposure helps foster a global perspective, promoting cultural understanding, empathy, and open-mindedness.

5. Digital Citizenship: Teaching electronic communication also involves educating students about responsible digital citizenship. This includes topics such as online safety, cyberbullying prevention, and ethical use of technology. By instilling these values, you are helping students become responsible and respectful digital citizens.

🤔Need a way to teach it?

1. Digital Citizenship Curriculum: Incorporate a digital citizenship curriculum that explicitly teaches students about electronic communication, online safety, and responsible technology use. This can include lessons, discussions, and activities that address topics such as online etiquette, privacy, and cyberbullying prevention. Teach skills all year with Nearpod's 21st Century Readiness or Common Sense's Digital Citizenship Curriculum.

2. Authentic Communication Tasks: Design authentic communication tasks that require students to practice electronic communication skills. For example, you can have students participate in online discussions, collaborate on projects using digital tools, or engage in virtual exchanges with students from other schools or countries. Communicate with classrooms around the world with Empatico and learn critical communication on a global scale (always check with a principal before trying).

Want a short, but fun way to talk about email with your students? Try this Quizizz on how to email your teacher!

Remember to model and reinforce positive electronic communication behaviors, and provide opportunities for students to reflect on their own digital interactions. By teaching students about electronic communication, you are empowering them to navigate the digital world responsibly and effectively.

Schedule a time for me to come into your classroom or planning time!

NGPF FinCap Friday

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Teach quick financial skills and build on them throughout the year!

Boost engagement with fun and versatile FinCap Fridays from Next Gen Personal Finance!

FinCap Fridays make it easy to bring relevant current events into your classroom. Each one includes a 2-minute video, 5-question quiz, discussion prompt, and additional resources. With ~175 different FinCap Fridays, you’re sure to find the perfect resource!

Check out the full library here!

Low Stakes Quizzes

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Educators often use summative assessments to see how well students are doing in their learning at a cumulative point in a unit.

However, does it have to be as stress-inducing and with such totality? Some research has shown that taking quizzes and other low-stakes formative assessments can actually help students remember what they've learned when it comes time for large-scale assessments like state testing. Educators want their students to remember and use what they've learned even after the class is over. So, giving students a quiz that doesn't count for a lot of points can be a good way to help them practice and remember the material, rather than just testing them.

There are plenty of great tools like Quizizz and Gimkit where you can make your own low-stakes quizzes with varying types of questioning and levels of rigor.

Also, by using tools like prompts in ChatGPT or QuestionWell, you can create your own quizzes quickly that are aligned to your current standard(s) and export them to a platform of your choosing.

Try one today with intentionality and to give you a great formative look!