53301_Briscoe_lesson5_Blog5

REOL 533_01

Tacy Briscoe

Blog 5

4/3/11

I learned this week that beginning around 3^rd grade students have an email address and are expected to communicate online.  That was amazing to me because it seems so young but also so progressive.   I have fears about improper use of the internet with such young students but have to remember this is probably how every new major technological advanced is thought of initially.  When telephones came out mothers, teachers, etc. were probably saying, “The kids are not going to be able to handle talking on that phone thing”.  Same with computers, we have to teach our children responsibility, not stick our heads in the sand and hope the World around us does the same, because they are not.

I have used online communication tools as a student but never before as a teacher.  I remember how grateful and amazed I felt when we first started using email, mainly in my undergraduate years.  It was such a relief and so easy to send a quick question and get a response.  Before email you either made an appointment with the professor or waited till your next class meeting, which could be days away, to get an answer.  As a teacher I will definitely use email as a communication tool with my students but I will also tell them that it will be checked at least every other day.  I would not want to be tied to my computer and the feeling of responsibility of answering emails all day long.  There should be boundaries and I see how this could cause unforeseen problems and annoyance to teachers.  We should be available but not have to be 24/7 and immediately.  That is not fair to the teachers’ time and is unreasonable for the student to feel they should get their answer so quickly.  I know how this works from personal experience as a student.  I send an email to a professor and expect an immediate reply.  That is not fair to the professor or to my expectations of them.  We have a great tool but it should be kept in check with its function and availability to both the student and the professor.  That said the same could be said for the student answering the teachers email.  It is a good idea to say how often you will be willing to check your email and stick to that time frame.  I appreciate that Dr. Goldberg stated this in the class FAQ’s and never really understood the importance of it till now.  It is also reassuring that you do know within that time frame your email will be checked and a reply is coming.  It takes the guess work out of when you will have an answer, such as, “I will know the answer to that question in at least 2 days”.  Email use has come a long way in a short time and is instrumental in our day in age.  I’m thankful for it and the fact that our culture is seeing its importance.