Introduction:
Technology leaders have proclaimed that the best way to get a staff involved in technology is to; "give them e-mail". Among the many advantages that technology provides for the educational arena, increased communications seems to be one of the best. Teachers in networked schools are now better able to exchange information about students from their isolated classrooms, thus providing more sisinct and meaningful instruction to their students (not to mention the paper that is saved).
E-mail also has the potential to impact students at all grade levels in a more direct way with many of the features that get teachers and administrators excited. Many organizations on the World Wide Web are being designed to assist classes around the world in the exchange of information via e-mail. The obvious benefits include the broadening of a child's cultural perspective and assisting them in attaining primary source materiel on a vast variety of topics. Not so obvious are the emphasis on reading and writing and the familiarity that students gain with a technology that will be so crucial for them in the waiting work force.
How is E-mail currently being used in classrooms?
On their web site "Building Bridges Through Cyberspace", Ashtabula Catholic Middle School describe their successful attempt at an informational exchange program through the use of e-mail. They set up connections through Web66: A K12 Web Project with schools in Ireland and Australia. One student reflected:
I really like this project. It helped me learn about different cultures from around the world. It's really fun writing back and forth using e-mail, but I don't like it when they don't write back for a while. I don't like waiting when I have more questions.
It seems that e-mail must be accompanied by a minimal use of the World Wide Web (and the construction of web pages). With a mastery of these simple technological skills, exchange is perfect for cultural, history, science or geography projects. Through electronic Mail, Internetvoice communications, and the WWW, photographs, images,sound and video clips can be shared at virtually no expense. In the process students will use and learn about the incredible technological revolution that is making it all possible.
What kinds of activities will make the exchange educational?
The ideas for activities involved with an e-mail exchange are far reaching and exciting. Many of the successful projects described on the web emphasis the increasingly important skill of collaboration. The AT&T Virtual Classroom Contest '97 was designed with that very purpose in mind.
It is now more necessary than ever for people to become accustomed to participating in international collaborative activities. With every passing day the importance of this becomes more and more evident.
The contest requires that three schools, somewhere in the world, use e-mail and the World Wide Web to collaborate on a project.
More Practically, organizations such as Pacific Bell are beginning to compile databases of topics that students can use when exchanging ideas with students in another areas of the world.
Some examples of these activities include:
How does my school get involved?
The basic requirement is that a school have at least one computer with an internet connection (a lab is optimal). E-mail accounts are free and easy to establish through companies such as hotmail.
In addition, there are a growing number of organizations that are providing free information and help in creating "telecommunications bridges" to other interested schools. Some of those include:
If your school is minimally equipped, a world of information awaits your students, staff and administrators.
Are there any risks involved?
The media has not failed in informing the public of the few instances in which disturbed individuals have used the internet as a tool to harm children. To tell children to stop using these services, however, would be like telling them to forgo attending college because students are sometimes victimized on campus. A better strategy would be for children to learn how to be "street smart" in order to better safeguard themselves in any potentially dangerous situation.
The following is a list of guidelines found on the IECC web site which students should understand before participating in an e-mail exchange:
1.Only tell your first name.
2.Do not give out personal information such as your last name, home address, parent's work
address, or telephone number.
3.Never share a password for an Internet game or chat room with the online pen pal.
4.Never agree to meet with someone online.
5.Notify the teacher and/or parent if you receive an obscene message.
6.Never send identifying pictures to your pen pal. Class pictures are fine to send as long as
individuals are not named (for example, John is the third person in the second row).
7.Never attach pictures or other files to an e-mail message unless the people receiving the message have given you permission.
The possibilities are endless for teachers of all grade levels. While the emphasis here has been on the students (were the focus should remain), the exchange of ideas between teachers and administrators has the potential to be just as valuable. With a simple internet connection and some time, a world of information awaits.