Online learning Platforms

Classrooms or Community

Cheryl Doig shared this article by Darren Sudlow. This was my reaponse:

Interesting and very relevany topic! I believe it's definitely how you use it. In our junior area of the school they are using Seesaw and the older ones are using Google Classroom. I have also used Storypark and I have used Google+ as a student myself. The one great benefit to using a platform is being able to connect with whānau as well as the child. Some thing I think is important to consider is the sense of safety. People may feel overwhelmed posting in a more public forum. People also feel more confident in a known environment but enjoy novelty. What ever teachers use it usually comes to how they use it to connect. I am enjoying the opportunity for students to communicate share their learning and build relationships with them and their whānau. At the moment I am having to connect with whānau in a variety of ways. I am enjoying using a platform to connect as I can connect 1:1 as well as with all students and their whānau. We also use Facebook (school wide and in our Hāpori)  so that is one of our ways to connect with a wider community.