Unit 2: Two-Way Communication
Unit Objectives - By the end of this unit, you will:
- Understand what two-way communication is
- Understand why two-way communication is useful
- Decide on a plan and parameters for two-way communication
Lesson 1
What is it?
Two-way communication is much more of a conversation with parents. It is two-way because when you communicate with the parents,they can communicate back. Parents can also initiate two-way communication with you. There are many ways to have two-way communication including phone calls, email. Skype or video calls, discussion groups, or social media.
Why do it?
Perhaps you want to communicate with a parent because you noticed that their child wrote an insightful discussion post or missed two recent assignments. Or perhaps a parent has a question about an assignment. Two-way communication is perfect for this! Keeping lines of two-way communication open can help you develop real partnerships with parents that benefit your students. This is especially important in online learning where student motivation can sometimes falter.
Watch this video about Teacher and Parent Communication. While it is heavily focused on the face-to-face classroom, a lot of the ideas can be adapted for an online classroom. For example, rather than in person meetings, you can use Skype (or similar technology) to have a discussion with a parent. In your log, write down the ideas that make the most sense for your online class.
Lesson 2
How do I do it?
Effective two-way communication requires setting parameters. It's a good idea to designate set times each week for two-way communication with parents and keep most of your time available for your work with students.
Look at your weekly schedule and decide how many hours you can spend on two-way communication. Two to three hours a week is a good target.
Decide on the methods you will offer for two-way communication. You can use email, Skype, texting, social media, or any combination of these methods that you are comfortable with. Many possible types and tools for communication are shown in the video Communicating With Online Parents and Students. Some of these tools are discussed in terms of communicating with students but could be used for two-way communication with parents as well. List any tools that appeal to you in your log.
Use one-way communication to let parents know.Now that you've decided when and how you are available, let the parents know! You can put the information into your newsletter, send an email, and/or give the information to your students so they can share it with their parents.
Evaluation
Create a weekly calendar and block off the time you have allotted for two-way communication with parents. A sample is shown below. Use the checklist below to self-assess your plan for two-way parent communication.
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You've completed Unit 2!
Time to move on to the next part of the course.
Go to Unit 1: One-Way Communication | Unit 3: Tips for Parents | Unit 4: Putting it All Together | Course Homepage