I found Blackboard a wonderful tool for lesson planning and delivery, grading students and also, communicating with them. It is flexible and is compatible with Google.docs, Youtube and word processors. In the future I would love to learn more about Blackboard. Students, teachers and specialist will be enriched by using tools like Blackboard.I have to mention that currently, Paraguayan schools start showing interesting in classroom management systems. Websites such as renweb.com and edmodo.com are frequently used among schools in Asunción. However, in most cases school staff is not using them effectively.
Learning how to use tools like Blackboard means changing the way of thinking and planning, not only for teachers, it also affects family too. By using those systems the lesson plan and learning may be extended all day long. In addition, parents may be part of it by using their own profile in order to make comments, checking homework and grades. Furthermore, students also may discuss among peers about subject as the same way the comment photos in Facebook.
Most of the tools that are mentioned in these lessons are available for laptops, computers, tablets and mobile phones. Interacting with the community 24/7 is possible and easy to achieve.
The interaction among teachers-parents-students should have rules, and etiquette codes. Face to face communication is different than written. It is a fact that most of schools in Paraguay do not have an acceptable use policies, basically schools rules don´t allow cellphone, tablets or computers in their campus. BYOD system is barely known in high schools and as I mentioned before most of them are prohibited during schools hours.
However, by introducing cellphones and tablets in classroom it is important to read and understand the AUP. Some parents and students may not always understand it uses. Devices should be embedded in a educational context, not for social interaction.
Privacy issues, cyber bulling are some topics to discuss when technology is introduce in everyday school activities. Some apps like Snapchat and voice notes through Whatsapp or Viber should be use with maturity. Education needs technology and AUP is the document to help the community to differentiate what it is correct and it is not. Also teachers are protected with a code in a way to communicate with their students and parents.So in my context AUP must be written (I found web pages that helps in order to make them clear and useful), then AUP have to be updated. If the instructor bases his/her lesson in Blackboard, devices should be allow and as a consequences the policies must exist. I hope all schools in Paraguay start taking AUP into their officials handbooks, not only by mentioning that devices are prohibited.
References.
International Society For Technology in Education. (2009). Essential Conditions. Necessary conditions to effectively leverage technology for learning. Retrieve May 17, 2014, from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/netsessentialconditions.pdf?sfvrsn=2.
International Society For Technology in Education. (2008). ISTE Standards Teacher. Retrieve May 17, 2014, from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-T_PDF.pdf
Macomb ISD, Ingham ISD, Shiawassee RESD, REMCAM (2013). Things, Tools, and Connections to Standards. Retrieve May 17, 2014, from http://www.21things4teachers.net/meeting-standards.html.
Michigan State University College of Education and Ameritech. Developing a School Acceptable Use Policy. Retrieved May 19, 2014, from http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/LETSNet/frames/teachers/art/B9U1L4.html.
