PDLM Syllabus

Workshop Title: Digital Communication with Parents

Description:
This is an online professional development workshop for administrators, teachers, and school
personnel. The purpose of this workshop is to provide a way for communication between parents
and administrators, teachers, or school personnel using digital communication.

Objectives:
*
By using a wiki, participants, will be able to list the advantages of using a wiki to
communicate with
parents.
*
To enhance communication, participants will be able to list one or two of the best practices
of using a wiki.
*
To share the details of a long term project, participants will create a wiki to give the parents
details of the
project.

Standards:
NETS-T:
By participating in and successfully completing this workshop, the following standard is met:
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
*
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative
professional in a
global and digital society.
c.
Teachers communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and
peers using a
variety of digital-age media and formats.

NETS-A:
By participating in and successfully completing this workshop, the following standard is met:
5. Digital Citizenship
*
Educational Administrators model and facilitate understanding of social, ethical and legal
issues and
responsibilities related to an evolving digital culture.
d.
Model and facilitate the development of a shared cultural understanding and
involvement in
global issues through the use of contemporary communication and collaboration tools.

Activities:
Introduction: Ask participants if they are familiar with any type of wikis. Ask participants if they
have used a wiki as a form of communication with parents. Ask participants what are appropriate
things to put on a wiki for parents and what are some inappropriate things to put on a wiki. (3
min.)
Scenarios: Have participants read different scenarios and label them appropriate or inappropriate.
(3 min.)
Blogging Tutorial: The participants will watch the youtube video PBWorks Tutorial about setting up
a PBWorks wiki. (8 min.)

Create Wiki: Set up PBWork account and write a blog about an upcoming assignment. (10 min.)
Conclude: Participants can ask any questions or make any comments. (3 min.)

Workshop Evaluation:
Participants will be assessed through participation in the discussion with the introduction and the
scenarios. Participants will be assessed on the completion of setting up a PBWorks account and
posting their first blog.

Instructor/Participant Expectations:
The instructor will be online for the entire workshop. The instructor will provide positive feedback
along with suggestions for improvement.

The participant will be signed-in and online the entire workshop. The participant will participate
and contribute to all of the discussions. The participant will complete all activities which include
watching the video, setting up a PBWorks account, and posting a blog of an upcoming assignment.
Both instructor and participant will communicate with professional netiquette at all times while
online.

Academic Honesty:
Academic honesty is expected throughout the workshop. Participants should submit work that is
original with all activities involved in the workshop. If participants submit work that is not their
own, they will receive no credit for attending the workshop.

Resources:
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). ISTE Standards: Teachers.
Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-T_PDF.pdf

Ribble, M. (2011). Digital citizenship in schools (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: ISTE

Instructor Information:
Name:

Andrea Carver

Office #: (912) 111 1111

Email: ac07079@georgiasouthern.edu
Office Hours: Monday Friday 8:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.
Contact me any time by email or doing office hours by phone.

PDLM Activity:
Digital Communication with Parents
Presenter:
Ms. Andrea Carver
Workshop Description:
This is an on-line professional development workshop for administrators, teachers, and school
personnel. The purpose of this workshop is to provide a digital way for communication between
parents and administrators, teachers, or school personnel using.

NETS Addressed:
NETS-T: 3C
By participating in and successfully completing this workshop, the following standard is met:
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative
professional in a
global and digital society.
c.
Teachers communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and
peers using a
variety of digital-age media and formats.
NETS-A: 5D
By participating in and successfully completing this workshop, the following standard is met:
5. Digital Citizenship
Educational Administrators model and facilitate understanding of social, ethical and legal
issues and
responsibilities related to an evolving digital culture.
d.
Model and facilitate the development of a shared cultural understanding and
involvement
in global
issues through the use of contemporary communication and collaboration tools.
Focus Question:
How can teachers use a "wiki" to communicate to parents the classroom activities, events, and/or
homework assignments?
Related Questions:
1) What are the "netiquettes" that must be used in communicating between parents, teachers,
administrators, and school personnel?
2) How do you create a "wiki"?
Objectives:
1) By using a "wiki," participants will be able to list the advantages of using a "wiki" to
communicate with
parents.
2) To enhance communication between parents and administrators, teachers, or school
personnel, participants will be able to list one or two of the best practices of using a "wiki."
3) To share the details of a long term project, participants will create a "wiki" to give parents
details of the
project.
Resources Needed:

Internet

Computer headphones

Blogging tutorial: YouTube video Weebly

Access to Weebly

Optional textbook: Ribble, M. (2011). Digital citizenship in schools. Washington

Activity Description:

Begin by asking participants if they are familiar with the term "wiki" and what does it mean?
Read responses and then reply with the correct definition of a "wiki." Now, ask if anyone has
ever used a "wiki" to communicate with parents? Read responses. Finally, ask if participants
can name some appropriate and inappropriate material to put on a "wiki" when
communicating with parents. Read responses and respond with a correct or not correct.

Next, have participants read four scenarios and post whether they are appropriate or
inappropriate. Respond with either correct or not correct and give reason why not correct.

Now, have participants watch the tutorial on how to set-up a "Weebly wiki" on YouTube
at Weebly Tutorial

After watching the video, have the participants set-up their "wiki" at Weebly (Weebly Sign
Up) and post their first blog about an upcoming long term assignment.

Conclude with asking if there are any questions or comments.

Extended Workshop Activity:

Have participants send the link to their "wiki" to the instructor via email. The instructor will check
participants sites to make sure only appropriate information is being posted and the participants
are posting at least once a week.
Teaching Tips:

Make sure that participants understand "wikis" so they can teach the parents the benefits.

Have participants inform all parents their decision to use "wikis" for further communication
and if they prefer not to participate then contact the participant.

Remind participants that their "wikis" will be viewed by many and the "wikis" should be
professional.

Assessment of Participant Learning and Workshop Effectiveness:

Participants will be assessed through their participation in the discussion- did they
participate in all discussion, were their posts reflective and on track.

Did the participants successfully set-up a "Weebly wiki?"

Did the participants successfully post on their "wiki?"

References:
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). ISTE standards: Administrators Retrieved
from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_StandardsA_PDF.pdf

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). ISTE standards: Teachers Retrieved
from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-T_PDF.pdf
Ribble, M. (2011). Digital citizenship in schools. Washington, DC: ISTE.
The following PowerPoint presentation was used to present my on-line class "Digital
Communication with Parents." Following are the slides I used for the presentation. I have included
notes following certain slides which helped me to present the information. I have included an
introduction with the title, standards, objectives, and focus questions. The next section contains
the activities for the participants which include group discussions, scenarios, and a video. The last
section is the conclusion where the participants can ask questions, set-up a weebly page and
complete the survey.
Slide 1

Slide 2

Slide 3

Notes:
A wiki is a website that allows participants to collaboratively edit the content and the structure
of the website.

Slide 4

Notes:
Using a wiki to communicate with parents is very useful.
First, the parents will know what is going on in the classroom.
Second, the parents can see the long term projects and plan accordingly.
Last, parents can post questions about the assignment or events that are occurring in the class.
Slide 5

Notes:
Make sure everyone has turned off their microphones until it is their turn so we may hear the
person talking.
Call on participants to hear their ideas and then discuss if appropriate or not.
Slide 6

Notes:
This is an appropriate post because the teacher posted only the facts involved with the
assignment.

Slide 7

Notes:
This is inappropriate because the teacher has put personal information about her children and that
has nothing to do with the assignment.
Slide 8

Notes:
Is this appropriate or not?
Hear participants opinion.
Talk about how something may be appropriate for some people and inappropriate for others.
Slide 9

Slide 10

Notes:
Notice how colorful the page is with the links for important information for the parents to the
left. This is a pre-k 3 year old class.
Slide 11

Notes:
This is an example of a Kindergarten, 1st, and 2ndgrade class page. This class page is very simply
laid out with the links for students and parents on the page.
Slide 12

Notes:
This is an example of a 7th, and 8th grade History class page. This page contains more information
student expectations, a link to the syllabus, and how to check your grades. Notice that this page
has more information for the students and not so much for the parents.
Remember all of the examples were created using Weebly.

Slide 13

Slide 14

Slide 15

Slide 16

Slide 17