Teacherweb product critique

1. Describe and discuss the impacts your use of a class web site (like
the one we created on TeacherWeb) might have on student learning,
on student engagement, and communications with students and parents.

I believe TeacherWeb is a great tool to engage students in learning. For example, I was able to use the slate page to have students submit assignments and even draw out concepts that could be taught in a Science lab. I also was able to make a newsflash page that students or parents could use to see what events were occurring that week of class. I though this was very helpful. Notices could be posted without worrying about being lost in transit on the way home. I could also see that parents/students would have the ability to directly contact me through email. Very helpful to keep communication open.
I thought the use of a class website like this one was useful because technology is an important aspect of learning in an environment like ours today. All students need the ability to be able to navigate web pages. I do plan on using a class website in my teaching, if not this one, one that I create myself, to facilitate online interactive learning. I also would like to incorporate a WebQuest and link the site from my home site. If students are able to see the advantages of why they are learning a concept it may make it much easier to accept why they are learning it. Technology is one of those areas where students will use it in their future in some way.

I can also see the benefits of using the Internet to try and incorporate all of the learning styles and intelligences. As long as the lesson plan is well thought out and effective, at some point in time all students will be able to learn by using their strengths and improving on their weaknesses!

2. Identify and discuss what you see as the two biggest advantages of designing
and using a classroom web site within your teaching activities.
Also, identify what you see as the biggest disadvantage of using a class website
for instructional activities and why.

I can see that students, as discussed briefly above, will be able to learn how they learn best. If the teacher is culturally responsive and incorporates "real world" material into the learning environment this will also be a great advantage ie: WebQuests and local issues. I believe students will learn and retain more information when they are actively learning and the learning is student based. I also believe that having the Internet allows for easier communication between students and parents. Although some say that email communication is taking over our lives and we do not have enough face to face communication, I would say that it much more probable that a teacher/parent would email to get the communication going, then a meeting could be arranged.

The two biggest disadvantages to using a website for instructional activities is that the website is ineffective, especially if that is the main form of instruction that the teacher is using. The teacher should have the year planed out and the website should be used as supplemental material. I am sure as first year teachers we will have guidelines and books to follow. Supplementing the lessons with web page activity is probably the best way to go.
Another disadvantage to having a class website is assuming that all students have regular access to the Internet at their disposal. Some of us are going to be teaching at inter-city schools where the money is just not there to have computers for student access.