The Power of Digital Communication and Educational Networking

How Emailing Has Expanded Education

Let us start by explaining what technology is. The Merriam-Webster dictionary provides multiple definitions of technology, such as "a manner of accomplishing a task, especially using technical processes, methods, or knowledge" and "the specialized aspects of a particular field of endeavor." The 1970s was a significant time for the expansion of technology. Hence, it is known as the beginning of The Information Age. Emailing was introduced to the world in 1971. The creator of this fantastic technology was a man named Ray Tomlinson. The article "1971: First Email Ever" states the remark that Tomlinson made to the verge: "There was no perfect way to leave messages for people. The telephone worked up to a point, but someone had to be there to receive the call. And if it wasn't the person you wanted to get, it was an administrative assistant or an answering service or something. That was the mechanism you had to go through to leave a message, so everyone latched onto the idea that you could leave messages on the computer." Tomlinson's statement directly correlates with why emailing has benefited the education field. Emails create ways for professional communication between parents, teachers, and students to be intensified. Parents can quickly send a message to teachers that can include, PDF's, images, links, and files. Students can contact their peers and collaborate on homework and ideas through email. Emails are also used to identify students and give them student benefits; they can sign up for educational websites, apps, and subscriptions, which allows them access to academic databases that can expand their learning and give them discounts that are valuable to them. Overall, emailing has opened up an avenue for teachers and students that gives them a chance to have meaningful conversations and collaborations that positively influence their education. 

Using Texting as a Learning Tool

Just 21 years after emailing was introduced, text messaging emerged. Texting was revolutionary because of its efficiency and dependability. As stated earlier, emailing was very formal and must be done online. People do not need the internet to text; it is more personal and connects directly to a person's phone number, enticing them to respond faster. The younger generations (including my own) grew up texting; I remember getting my first phone in the first grade, a flip phone that I had to get my parents to put minutes on to text, and I also played Tetris on it, if you know, you know. Although texting was beneficial and still is, it also is associated with a lot of negatives, such as people texting and driving, texting and walking, texting in class, texting during a conversation, texting during a conference; the list goes on; the overall message is that texting is seen as a harmful distraction. Due to texting having a lousy rapport, most schools allow teachers and faculty to ban students from using their phones. Texting is just another part of technology, and there are plenty of positives to texting, including what it can do in the classroom; texting can 100% be used as a learning tool. The article "Using Texting to Promote Learning and Literacy" states a variety of ways that teachers can incorporate texting into their lesson plans. It states that texting can "Allow students to text responses during class discussions," "Users can send a text message query and quickly receive definitions, translations, maps, directions, and other pieces of information," students can "Use texting to launch discussions on formal versus informal language, comparing syntax, language, grammar, and usage of text and IM [instant messaging] with formal, written English." Last, but not least, it pushes teachers to "Have your students use texting to create short summaries of longer, more formal pieces of literature." Instead of taking away something that students are familiar with, we should use those same things to enhance their education. Since texting requires formulating and typing out a thought, reading someone else's messages, and deliberating on the meaning of their text to respond in the best manner possible, why would it not be a great learning tool to improve literacy?  

Connecting Social Media and Educational Networking

Social media is a virtual world; many platforms offer similar but different ways to connect and network. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and X are some of the most notable social media platforms. Social media consists of making an account, completing a bio, and documenting whatever you want to post onto your account. You can post pictures, write captions, go live, and interact with other people's content. Social media allows someone from Guatemala to connect with someone in China. Social media is the place to go when networking because it gives endless contacts. It has sparked a brand-new light into the educational field. The article "Social Media in Education: 13 Ideas for the Classroom" from San Diego University states some benefits of social media in the classroom, such as "parents can stay informed of school news, social media platforms are free, students may find it easier to participate in online discussions, and teachers can augment an online-only class by establishing a social media page or account strictly for building community." Teachers can now interact with each other at an entirely new level. Teachers are posting content that could help other teachers worldwide; teachers are setting up virtual Q and As to educate their peers and connect with their students and the people who are online to learn. Liking, commenting, sharing, and following these are all ways that social media puts teachers together to inspire one another. Teachers can post about lesson planning, classroom formatting, and organizational techniques; networking opportunities are endless. 

Spotlight Problem Solving

"When done effectively, technology can support problem-based learning because of the wide range of tools available; how technology naturally lends itself to collaboration, and its ability to help students explore problems," as stated in the "Meaningful Technology and Curriculum" chapter of Pressbooks. Problem-based learning directly correlates with constructivism. Constructivism is the learning theory that supports the idea that learning consists of using prior ideas to build the following steps and stages of learning. Constructivism is used to define the idea that active learning is a depth of learning that requires experience, and this experience is more valuable when problem-solving skills are used. Podcasting is an excellent example of how technology can increase problem-solving skills. Teachers can encourage students to come up with ideas for the topic and content of their podcast, which will allow them to do online research, set up chat rooms, and even make video calls to collaborate outside of the classroom. Teachers can then facilitate students to take charge of specific tasks, such as someone setting up the voice recorder, someone else connecting the microphones, editing, making sure the transcript is accurate, and so on. When students can hone skills that they are already familiar with, they are more susceptible to engaging in an assignment. Using technology to solve problems has been a game-changer in education. 

References Page

Emma. (2019, January 31). How Classroom Email Use Benefits Students. LearnSafe. https://learnsafe.com/how-classroom-email-use-benefits-students/

McLeod, S. (2024, February 1). Constructivism as a Theory for Teaching and Learning. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/constructivism.html

Merriam-Webster. (2019). Definition of TECHNOLOGY. Merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technology

Swatman, R. (2015, August 19). 1971: First Ever Email. Guinness World Records. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/60at60/2015/8/1971-first-ever-email-392973

University of San Diego. (2023, May 23). Social Media in Education: 13 Ideas for the Classroom. University of San Diego - Professional & Continuing Education. https://pce.sandiego.edu/social-media-in-education/

Using Texting to Promote Learning and Literacy | LD OnLine. (n.d.). Www.ldonline.org. https://www.ldonline.org/ld-topics/writing-spelling/using-texting-promote-learning-and-literacy