Type of Digital Technologies

The rapid exchange of information between people using digital devices happens when teachers integrate social technologies into their in-school instructional practices and their outside-the-classroom professional activities. 

Types of Digital Communications Include

Emails - messaging and texting

Teacher Blogs - publicly accessible sites written by teachers

Microblogging (Twitter, Facebook) - limited number of words to share ideas

Online Discussion - digital forums in which teachers/students discuss educational topics

Wikis - teachers/students create and edit together

Backchannels - chat rooms that allow students to discuss educational information.

Digital communications can be used as an educational tool to continue learning when the school day finishes. On a classroom website such as Google Classroom or teaching blog, teachers can post class notes, questions, homework assignments, web-links for research, or other educational activities. Discussion boards promote exchanges of ideas among class members. According to Maloy, Verock, Edwards, and Trust (2021), “Teaching occurs digitally as students read and review what you post to connect in-school learning with outside-of-school activities. The process becomes interactive as students respond by submitting their own ideas, inquiries, and homework. Digital exchanges connect student learning inside and outside of school” (pg. 215).