Blog #7 - Teacher Websites

I have had many teachers use different strategies. Only one of the K-12 schools I've attended used the school website as a platform for students, teachers, and parents to communicate. In reality, even my old high school, where each teacher has their own page within the website, stopped using the website, and almost all teachers have transitioned to using Remind, an app for students and parents to use to communicate with the teachers. Regardless, the few teachers who use the website will use it to share the Remind group code, provide the class syllabus, or give an overview of the class's learning objectives. I found one teacher who used to post homework, and below is a screenshot of their webpage:

I can understand the transition to using communication apps like Remind or even Facebook for schools. In an age where mobile phones reign supreme, it's more convenient to announce everything through an App than a website. I still like the idea of a website. As a teacher, you can be limited by mobile apps since they're not usually as versatile as web pages. I would use a combination of a website and a mobile app. Especially with younger kids on their mobile devices more often, an app would be the most efficient and convenient way to relay information like homework reminders or special announcements. I would also use either Google Calendar or a calendar app to make sure students and parents stay up to date on assignments and projects. It also helps me visualize my lesson plans in a way that just isn't possible if you look at the spreadsheets. 

I used to use Blackboard as a student, and let me tell you, Canvas is far superior. With that said, the assignment we just had where we had to update a page together is brilliant and especially useful for any bigger projects. It has a bit of a rough transition for those who have never used it before, but the learning curve isn't too steep, and it provides a shared space for group project members. I can definitely envision a semester-long project where the page gets very intricate and detailed. The biggest downside is that unlike Bloggers or other blog websites, the students won't be able to revisit their page once they graduate. Another downside is that it's not as versatile as an actual website or blog managed by a group of students. There is not a lot of room for personalization, which, in general, makes a project less fun. Other than that, it's an excellent tool for group projects but only to consolidate/post all the work. It's not meant to be a communication tool or anything, and other collaborative services/applications do a better job of notifying students of any updates made.