This document discusses various communication technologies used by today's students, including text messaging, instant messaging, blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. It provides a brief overview of each technology and how students use them to communicate privately and share information. The document suggests that teachers would be wise to incorporate these technologies into their classrooms to better connect with students. It proposes several potential applications of these technologies for communicating with students and parents, such as using text messaging for polling or reminders, instant messaging for tutorials or conferences, and social media for sharing work, assignments, and communicating. It concludes by encouraging teachers to choose one technology to implement in their classroom in a useful way over the next year.

1. Classroom Communication Technologies Reaching this Generation through New Forms of Communication

2. Do You Know What These Are? Text Messaging IMing Blogging Twitter Facebook MySpace These are the communication technologies of today’s teenagers!

3. A Brief Overview Text Messaging: This is the sending of short messages through cell phones. Instant Messaging: This is essentially a private chatroom between two individuals usually through a client on their computers. Common instant messaging clients include MSN (Microsoft), AIM (AOL Instant Messenger), ICQ, Yahoo Instant Messenger, Facebook IM, MySpace IM, and Google Chat. Some instant messaging clients can send text messages back and forth to cell phones.

4. A Brief Overview Blogging: This is essentially an online journal or a web log. Several different websites offer free blog posting capabilities including: Facebook, MySpace, Blogspot, LiveJournal, and Xanga. In many cases a blog posted to one of these sites can be setup to appear on all of them. Twitter: This is online site allows people to post a short message of no more that 140 characters called tweets. Tweets can be made online or through text messaging. Others are able to comment on the tweets made. Additionally people can subscribe (or follow) other Twitter users. These followers can receive tweets as a text message, e-mail, or by logging into the site.

5. A Brief Overview Facebook & MySpace: These sites are both social networking sites with similar characteristics. Members can add people they know to their friend lists. Each members is able to share pictures, videos, status updates, blog posts, and limitless information about themselves through these sites. Each of these sites allows for comments on other people profiles, status, pictures, videos, etc. They have instant messaging capabilities as well as messaging similar to internal e-mail.

6. The Future Today’s students are more connected now than ever before. They are accustomed to instant communication. Teachers and administrators would be wise to find useful ways to incorporate these communication technologies into their classrooms and schools.

7. Possible Applications Text Messaging Polling classes with multiple choice questions. Sending out reminders to students or parents about upcoming assignments or events. Instant Messaging Communicating with students during tutorial hours. Communicating with parents during conference times.

8. Possible Applications Blogging Classroom discussions. Teacher website for assignments, lessons, reviews, etc. Twitter Communication with parents and students about upcoming events or assignment reminders.

9. Possible Applications Facebook / MySpace Future potential for a classroom plug-in including Video / image sharing Assignment submission Quizzes Posting of worksheets, reviews, assignments, calendars, etc. Communication with students via Instant Message client or E-mail-like client.

10. What Now? Choose one of these technologies to implement in your classroom over the next year in a useful way. Encourage your colleagues to do the same. Be patient. It may take a while for students to warm up to using technology to communicate with a teacher.