TeacherWeb Reflections

1. Describe and discuss the impacts your use of a class web site like the one we created on TeacherWeb might have on student learning, on student engagement, and communications with students and parents.

TeacherWeb can have a big impact on students and parents. TeacherWeb can help students with their learning. A lot of times children just go home and don't do their homework because they forget what they are supposed to do that night. With TeacherWeb students can see what they need to do that night for school by checking the Teacher's website. It also impacts students' engagement. Students can get to know their teacher by their TeacherWeb. They also can be interactive in a blog on the teacher's site. They can discuss how they felt about a subject and give the teacher feedback. TeacherWeb also impacts communication with students and parents. Students and parents can be kept updated on certain things in the classroom on the teacher's site. Parents can contact the teacher through this site. They can also see what their child is supposed to do at night for homework or see how their child is doing in school by checking their grades. It is important for the parents to be involved in their children's schooling.

2. Identify and discuss what you see as the two biggest advantages of designing and using a classroom web site within your teaching activities. Also, identify what you see as the biggest disadvantage of using a class website for instructional activities and why.

One of the biggest advantages of using a classroom website would be teaching kids to use technology. Technology is such a large part of life and it is important for students to understand how technology works. Having students navigate through the class website is a great way for them to understand websites. Links to other educational sites are important to have on the class website. These links are beneficial because not only does it allow more resources for students to use but it gives students active involvement in using technology.

The other advantage is the communication between the parents/students and teacher. Posting information about the class is important because it allows the students and parents to see what is going on within the classroom and what the students need to do. The teacher can post information about studying and how the parents can help the students at home. It allows the parents to contact the teacher as well as get to know who the teacher is.

The biggest disadvantage would be the fact that not all students have access to computers at home. Many people do not have the privilege of having the technology some of us have. Having a classroom website would only benefit the students with access to computers. It would leave out students without computers which would ultimately be unfair and not beneficial to those students.