Web-based Communication

Currently society is in its 20th century, and quickly emerging into the 21st century technology has and will be reaching great heights. The education field is one of the most considerably effected domains in the advancement of the technology “revolution”.

According to Stoner (1997), technology in the future is looking towards increased online/distance learning, virtual field trips, and audio files of music. As the technological world evolves so should the local community. Many of the latest educational technology will require two-way communication in the virtual community. Author of Virtually in the Middle defines the virtual community as a “Web-based communication forum. It is an interactive electronic space on the Internet in which diverse individuals can raise questions, share ideas, plan activities, congregate, and learn. This kind of dialogue and communication that would occur in this kind of virtual community is referred to as “asynchronous” or “delayed” conferencing, which is a time-free discussion of topic strands. ”(Beghettio, 2001, p.22).

First, method in which parents can increase communication to teacher is by logging on to the net. Parents can log on to school web sites, view lessons, objectives, goals, homework assignments, and student’s attendance. Currently, most counties nation wide provides a break down of state, county, and local web site for schools. For example, Maryland has a web site for all of its’ counties, that further break down to elementary, secondary, and high school. Listed on these sites are things like the school mission, contact information for facilities, special programs, individual classroom homework, and agenda for the week. Secondly, communication via web-based allow user-friendly e-mail exchange between all parents and educators. Many families in America have a functioning computer with access to the Internet. Those families who do not own a home computer have access to e-mail at work. On the flip side teachers who have Internet-connection at school make sending e-mail one of the most popular usages. The graph in Educational Media and Technology Yearbook displays e-mail as the highest-ranking form of utilizing computers (Educational Media and Technology, 2004). Parents can be alerted via e-mail when their child needs further studying, absent form class, or to praise their child’s improvements. Third, linking parents to resources to assist in their child’s assignments can also be done via web-base.