Communicating with stakeholders

Integrating technology is hard enough on all involved.  Make it easier on yourself with the support of your stakeholders!  If the students, parents, administration, and community does not understand the purpose or timeline of technology integration, the road to implementation will be more difficult than necessary. When communicating with those involved they need to know where you are, where you want to go, and how you plan to get there.  I have found it is also important to take their suggestions and at least try their suggestions if at all possible.  Everyone wants to be informed and involved.

It is important that administration has a clear expectation or what will happen in and out of the classroom.  They need to understand how it will work, when it will work, and the support that everyone involved will need.  The community will need this information as well.  In addition, the community needs to know the importance of teaching and learning with technology.  They must understand the "big picture" and the means necessary to achieve it.

As for the students and parents, we need to communicate with them any way possible.  I have parents who have cell phones and no internet at home.  Therefore, I need to text them or use social media that they can access on their phones easily.  My students love Google and emailing to communicate.  We have tried sending notes home, publishing newsletters online, Twitter communication, Facebook posts, and phone calls.  I like to keep the parents and students as informed as possible, through many venues.

I have a long way to go to make sure everyone involved is informed and comfortable with technology integration, but no one can say we aren't trying as a school.  There is sometimes too much information and too many portals we go through.  I like to try everything and then back off on what does not work.  It is important to track and monitor the usage and effectiveness of the communication outlets and choose no more than you can handle.  I like to stay to 3, but at times I am trying many different ways.  Always growing, always learning!