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Children working on laptops in a classroom

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1-1 computing is when each student has their own personal electronic learning device

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How do you think we should address phones in schools?

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Useful article referenced in the textbook

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Useful article referenced in the textbook

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Ensuring it stays academic

Many teachers have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to phones out during class, since they assume-most of the time correctly-that their students are using them to text friends or update their various social media sites. But there's a simple way to ensure that students use devices for educational purposes: change the classroom dynamic from lecturing at the front of the room to having no traditional front of the classroom at all. During class, Halla roams around the room helping students with their work, all the while overseeing everything to make sure that they're staying on task.

"It's harder to do the negative behaviors when the phones are out and the teacher is walking around," he says.

Use smartphones to stay organized and assess learning

A great app for keeping students on top of their work is Remind101, where students voluntarily sign up to receive a text reminder when they have an upcoming assignment due. Not only does it help students better organize their assignments, but it's also engaging parents. Halla says many parents sign up for the app to keep track of their children's homework.

"I was stunned by how many more kids started doing the homework," he says. "I just thought they didn't want to do the work, but it was more that they were unorganized and had forgotten to do it."

Aside from the education-friendly apps now available, Halla has found online resources that can help support classroom productivity and be easily accessed via smartphone.

Halla recommends polleverywhere.com to test students' knowledge of their subject material before an upcoming test. Teachers can set up a question or questions based on what the students are currently learning in class, and then provide them with a text number. Students see the question with several potential answers-usually an A, B, C, D, or E template-and then they'll text in the answer. As the students' answers are compiled, the site creates a graph showing their responses. Polleverywhere.com also costs nothing to use for a survey of 40 or fewer participants.

"It's a good way to see how the students are comprehending the material," Halla says. "For example, if a lot of students are picking option C and B is really the answer, then I can go back and review the material again."

Apps for the social sciences

Halla recommends a number of apps that are perfect for teaching social science courses. There's World Wiki, an app that provides demographic information for almost 250 countries around the world; iAmerica, an app with information about each U.S. President and the history of the White House; U.S. Constitution, so students can have easy access to one of the most important American documents; and many others that are designed to provide students with further classroom support.

Halla has created a list of some of the most useful apps he's found for the classroom, which is available on his blog. While not all apps are available on Android devices, the large majority of them can be accessed on iPhones, iPads, and iPods. Also, before implementing smartphones or iPads into your own classroom, find out which apps are approved for classroom use in your district; and, if you find one you like that isn't on the approved list, consult with your school and district administrators before proceeding

Let fun foster productivity

As a final tip, Halla suggests being open to letting students have some fun with their devices. He was surprised to discover that his students are quieter and more focused on their assignments when they are allowed to listen to their music during individual classwork-provided they use headphones and the music is not too loud to distract their classmates.

"It's amazing," he says. "The noise level in the classroom goes down, and the work amount goes up when you let them listen to their music."

Halla asks students to only use sites that streams music. That way, they can stay focused on their work without the distracting need to find a new song every few minutes.

And when it comes time to get back to classroom instruction, Halla simply has the students remove their earbuds, put down their phones, and focus on what he's teaching. After all, not all learning can be done digitally-but Halla says that teachers have to adapt to the changing times and find a way to successfully incorporate these devices into their own classrooms.

"I've always been that type of person who likes to adapt and change as time goes on," says Halla. "Otherwise, I wouldn't still be teaching this many years down the road."

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Using Smartphones in the Classroom | NEA

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Tired of telling students to put away their phones? A veteran teacher shares tips for using mobile devices as learning tools.

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Penguin saying "That's too much information"

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With more information online than we would ever need it is easy for a student to feel overwhelmed

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When did you get your first cellphone and what was it?

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When did you get your first cellphone and what was it?

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A quick video on how to use it

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This article will go more deep on the issue of the Digital Divide

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There's a major gap between people who can access and use digital technology and those who can't. This is called the digital divide, and it's getting worse as 3.7 billion people across the globe remain unconnected. But what causes the digital divide, and how can we stop it?

Technology is developing faster than ever, and it's increasingly necessary for different aspects of life, from work and school to pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Areas of the world without the right infrastructure and people who can't afford, or don't know how to use, technology are at a disadvantage. To avoid economic fallout and promote digital equity and digital inclusion, institutions must address and try to close the digital divide.

Aspects of the Digital Divide

As technology develops faster, it also becomes essential for more aspects of daily life, including school and healthcare. As a result, the digital divide is worsening as those with technology get ahead faster, and those without technology are left behind.
Technology Is Developing Faster
Computers and cellphones aren't the only kinds of technology developing at exponential rates.

Although these areas are changing quickly, especially with the rollout of 5G, the digital divide is widening as technology advances and becomes crucial for many different elements of daily life.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues around the world, many aspects of life that previously took place in person have moved online, such as education. According to a Harvard Business Reviewarticle by Bhaskar Chakravorti, fifty-five million students in the U.S. alone switched to remote learning during the pandemic. However, one in five teens reported being unable to do their homework "often" or "sometimes" because of unreliable internet access. Twelve million U.S. children lacked internet access altogether. Around the globe, students without access to the internet risk losing out on education entirely.
Technology Is Essential for More Aspects of Daily Life
This isn't only happening in schools. Many aspects of medicine and healthcare went virtual after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine, virtual healthcare consultations, and video mental health appointments are all a staple of post-pandemic life. Technology is becoming crucial for the everyday medicine we're used to, but it's also changing the scope of healthcare altogether.

Nicholas Napp and Sophia Napp-Vega discuss the expansion of technology into healthcare in "The Digital Divide: Humanity's Greatest Challenge?" Wearable technology like exoskeletons and smart glasses are becoming a reality, and implantable technology such as cochlear implants could even advance to function like headphones. Expanding healthcare technology also includes advances in genetic testing, which is now commonly used in pregnancy and for allergies in some parts of the world, and pharmaceutical technology.
The Divide Is Worsening
As this technology develops more quickly, those without access are left behind faster. Students without internet access fall behind their peers in school. Then, as other students keep learning, it becomes harder and harder to catch up.

As parts of the world without technological infrastructure struggle to get current, nations that prioritize equal access to technology and digital development are already looking toward the future. Eventually, the gap between those with technology and those without it will become irreparable.

Causes of the Digital Divide

The digital divide is partly caused by a lack of infrastructure. But it's also a matter of digital literacy and how institutions support technology.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is a huge concern when it comes to the digital divide. Accessing a website requires a computer and an internet connection. This means broadband or fiber-optic connectivity. Or, a user needs a smartphone with data. In the United States, 5.6 percent of the population has no access to broadband internet. Students are worse off: fifteen to sixteen million (30 percent) lack broadband internet access.

Some people hope that 5G will bring internet connectivity to more individuals because broadband infrastructure expansion is a costly endeavor. IEEE's "Connecting the Unconnected" chapter of the International Network Generations Roadmap argues that 5G mobile communications will likely miss the world's three billion users living in remote and rural communities. This will only broaden the technological divide.

Even if users can get online, though, they may lack the technological literacy to succeed in the digital world.
Digital Literacy
The digital divide isn't only an issue of who has access to digital tools but also who can use them safely and effectively. This is the difference between computer literacy, knowing how to turn on a computer or use a smartphone app, and digital literacy.

Digital literacy can mean a lot of things. It includes knowing what information is safe to share online, how to spot disinformation on the internet, and how digital skills can be used to improve one's life. This information needs to be taught, which is why closing the digital gap isn't only a matter of building infrastructure. It requires closing the knowledge gap by educating people on digital literacy.
Institutions
A lack of support from institutions such as national, state, or local governments contributes to the digital divide. Governments should fund or subsidize access to broadband internet. Institutions must prioritize educating individuals about technology, use, and safety. In places where this is not the case, people are likely to land on the wrong side of the digital divide.

Impact of the Digital Divide

The digital divide not only causes individual economic disadvantages, but it can also stunt the economic growth of an entire society. What's worse, the technology divide is deepening pre-existing inequities around the world.
Personal Economic Impact
As discussed earlier, a lack of connectivity means individuals may miss out on education and healthcare. Higher educational attainment is linked with higher earning potential, so forgoing education because of the digital divide may mean decreased lifetime earnings. And losing healthcare because of technology could mean a lower life expectancy and quality of life.

Additionally, digital skills are increasingly necessary for middle-skills jobs, which require less than a bachelor's degree and pay above a living wage. According to a 2017 Digital Edge report, "Middle-Skill Workers and Careers," 82 percent of middle-skills jobs require digital skills. Even outside of industries that require occupationally specific digital skills, most entry-level middle-skills jobs require digital productivity skills, such as word processing or spreadsheets. Moreover, career advancement often requires advanced digital skills like social media or computer networking.

Middle-skills jobs on average pay $20 per hour, well above the federal minimum wage in 2021 of $7.25 per hour. And jobs that require baseline digital skills pay 17 percent more than nondigital roles. Therefore, the personal economic impact of the digital divide is vast. Individuals and society both lose out from the digital divide.
Social Economic Impact
Individual economic loss on a massive scale-caused by the technology divide-negatively impacts entire economies.

The World Bank reports that increasing broadband penetration by 10 percent increases gross domestic product (GDP) by 1.21 percent in developed nations and 1.38 percent in developing countries.

Bhaskar Chakravorti agrees, stating that a 10 percent increase in U.S. broadband access in 2014 would have resulted in 875,000 additional jobs and $186 billion more economic output in 2019. Allowing the digital divide to worsen not only hurts individuals but also entire countries.
Increased Racial Inequities
Furthermore, the digital divide worsens pre-existing inequities. According to Chakravorti, in the U.S., nearly half of Americans without at-home internet access were in Hispanic or Black households. Up to 40 percent of students from Black, Latino, and indigenous communities struggle with insufficient digital literacy. As more jobs require digital skills, without proper intervention, a majority of Black and Hispanic workers could be locked out of 86 percent of jobs by 2045.
Gender Digital Divide
Further, women face some of the harshest results of the digital divide. According to UNESCO, 2 billion women globally are not connected to the internet. This is the gender digital divide. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, 130 million girls were denied education. Now, because of COVID-19 disruptions in education and the switch to digital learning, UNESCO estimates that an additional 11 million girls are at risk of not returning to the classroom.
Income Divide
In addition, a study of 191 countries showed that higher income and educational attainment are positively linked with access to technology. Higher GDP per capita correlates with higher information and communication technology (ICT) dispersion. This is true for developing economies and rural areas within developed nations.

Digital inequity is also an issue of digital inclusion. This occurs when the right technological infrastructure is in place, but users can't afford broadband or can only afford speeds that aren't useful for everyday functions. In this way, the digital divide is an intersectional issue that worsens inequities for marginalized groups.

Examples of Bridging the Digital Divide

Luckily, there are many countries, institutions, and industries working to bridge the digital divide. The European Union, the Republic of Korea, and Estonia are just three locations that are building infrastructure, prioritizing digital education, and promoting public-private partnerships to close the digital divide.
European Union
In 2010, the European Union (EU) launched the Digital Agenda for Europe, which sought to address the EU's digital divide by 2020. Achievements reached during the decade include lower prices for electronic communication, the creation of a broadband fund to support digital infrastructure, and the passage of legislation protecting consumers' digital privacy.

Then, in 2020, the EU revealed Digital Decade, a new digital framework that seeks to empower Europe digitally by 2030. Goals under Digital Decade include building infrastructure, providing digital services, and increasing the accessibility of digital connectivity so that European citizens and businesses can all be connected.

This prioritization of technology infrastructure by governing bodies is an important step in closing the digital divide. The Republic of Korea has done similar work.
Republic of Korea
After the Korean War ended in the 1950s, the Republic of Korea (ROK) had one of the poorest economies in the world. Now, it's one of the most developed countries in the region and has one of the world's most innovative economies thanks to government intervention and investment in ICT access.

The country has also prioritized technology in education. By integrating technology into every aspect of education, the ROK promotes digital literacy from an early age to help close the digital divide.
Estonia
Similar to the ROK, Estonia made an intentional decision to invest in computer networking and infrastructure after its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. In 1996, the government of Estonia created the Tiger Leap Foundation to modernize education.

Since then, cooperation between the government, the private sector, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations has built one of the world's most digitally advanced societies.

Connecting the Unconnected

The digital divide is expanding rapidly as technology develops faster than ever before, leaving some to wonder, What is the digital divide? A lack of infrastructure is a major cause, but the digital divide is complex and nuanced. It's also a result of poor digital literacy education, inequitable access to technology, and a lack of support from governing institutions. These obstacles profoundly weaken economic wellbeing and worsen social injustices for both individuals and society.

There's hope for the future as countries and organizations around the world look to bridge the digital divide. IEEE's Connecting the Unconnected Challenge is one initiative seeking to find innovative solutions to the digital divide. Find out more information here.
Interested in becoming an IEEE member? Joining this community of over 420,000 technology and engineering professionals will give you access to the resources and opportunities you need to keep on top of changes in technology, as well as help you get involved in standards development, network with other professionals in your local area or within a specific technical interest, mentor the next generation of engineers and technologists, and so much more.

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What Is the Digital Divide? - Connecting the Unconnected

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There's a major gap between people who can access and use digital technology and those who can't. This is called the digital divide, and it's getting worse as 3.7 billion people across the globe remain unconnected. But what causes the digital divide, and how can we stop it?

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Communication Apps for Parents and Teachers

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Communication Apps for Parents and Teachers

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This article will give some apps for teachers and parents to easily communicate with each other

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It's important for schools and teachers to be able to stay in touch with families, and these days they have more options than ever. A teacher-parent communication app allow teachers to reach out without revealing their personal phone numbers. It also makes it easy to share work and progress, send home reminders, and more. New apps pop up on a regular basis, giving teachers and schools plenty to choose from. Here's how to get started.

How To Choose a Teacher-Parent Communication App in 2023-2024

With so many options on the market, it can be hard to decide which app is right for you. Here are some factors to consider:

Features: Do you just want a straightforward app for sending and receiving messages? Or would you benefit from additional features like translation, tracking, payment processing, and more?

Price: Some apps are free for all. Others are free for parents and students, but schools must pay to enroll. While there are high-quality free parent communication apps, schools may benefit from enrolling in a more comprehensive program.

Accessibility: Whichever app you choose, ensure parents can access it in a variety of ways, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

How To Use a Teacher-Parent Communication App

Once you've chosen an app, you'll want to use it effectively. Try these tips:

Simplify: Consider choosing one standard comprehensive communication app for your school or district, so parents don't need separate apps for messaging, behavior reports, sign-ups, and other activities.

Communicate regularly: So many parents are used to hearing from schools only when something has gone wrong. Flip the script and send regular useful messages home, so families welcome your communications.

Don't over-communicate: On the other hand, if you send messages too often, parents will start to ignore them. Keep your communications concise and useful.

Respond promptly: When parents take time to reach out, try to respond within 24 hours. However, don't wear yourself out answering messages all evening or on weekends.

For more, check out 9 of the Biggest Parent Communication Mistakes (Plus How To Fix Them).

Best Teacher-Parent Communication Apps for the 2023-2024 School Year

Ready to give a communication app a try or in the market for a new one? These are the top options available today.

This is one of the most popular school communication apps, and it's a real powerhouse. Bloomz combines messaging with attendance management, forms and permission slips, appointments and calendars, and much more. See our full review of Bloomz here.

Cost: The basic app is free for both parents and teachers, and it includes a lot of terrific features. There are premium plans available with additional components, for both teachers and parents.

Brightwheel is ideal for private childcare facilities because it provides an easy way to manage enrollment and billing. Teachers can use the app for parent messaging (including photos and videos), check-in and attendance management, reminders and emergency alerts, and more.

Cost: Brightwheel offers a free version with limited features. Upgrade to Premium for more ( see a comparison here); contact Brightwheel for pricing information.

The ClassDojo app allows teachers to instantly share announcements, photos, and videos with families on their Class Story, as well as privately message any parent. In addition, the app features videos and activities that encourage positive classroom culture and a teacher toolkit of helpful classroom management accessories. One feature that sets ClassDojo apart is the ability to award points for various behaviors, which can be redeemed for a variety of rewards.

Cost: ClassDojo is completely free for schools and teachers, with all features included. Parent accounts are also free, although they can pay $4.99/month for some extra features like the ability to add more family members to the account.

Connect with parents and save time on communications with direct messaging, announcements, photo/video sharing, conference and event sign-ups, and automatic weekly newsletters. Parents can download the app if they like, or choose to receive messages via SMS, email, or web, translated into the language of their choice. There's even a rewards program for using the app for parent communication.

Cost: Completely free, with in-app ads. You can pay for an ad-free subscription monthly ($3.99) or annually ($19.99), but all features of the app are available in the free version.

In addition to all its other features, Google Classroom allows teachers to email students directly and include information about work and assignments. Teachers can also post events and announcements for the whole class to see. Teachers at schools using G Suite for Education can email parents summaries of recent work and activity. This isn't the most extensive communication app, but it might be worth trying out the features since they're included in a program many teachers are already using anyway.

Cost: Free

If you're simply looking for an easy way to manage group messaging while keeping phone numbers private, this app might be the answer. Set up a group for classroom parents, students in clubs or project groups, or any other combination. You can chat, post videos, or create events and polls.

Cost: Free for all users

Keep parents in the loop on everything that's going on with this comprehensive app. Parents can see homework and assignments, calendars, class and student progress, and more. Teachers can message parents as a group or privately, plus post regularly to update everyone on what's happening in the classroom. The whole experience has a social media feel, but it's all safe and private.

Cost: Free version provides a robust experience. Parents and teachers can upgrade to paid subscriptions for a variety of additional features; see pricing here.

Konstella is designed specifically for parent groups like PTAs/PTOs or room parents. These organizations will find it useful for rosters, sign-up lists, committees, event planning, fundraising, and more. This app lets parents take control of the communication needed to help other families get involved in their school community.

Cost: The app offers two plans for schools: Basic ($349/year) or Premium ($699/year). Once a school is enrolled, parents can use the app for free.

The ParentSquare app takes a broad approach to communication that includes district administrators, school leaders, teachers, and families. Send everything-mass notifications, classroom posts, one-to-one messages, forms, sign-ups-using tools built to work together. The app includes automatic two-way translation in 100+ languages too.

Cost: Schools pay a one-time onboarding fee, then a per-student annual fee thereafter. The app is free for parents and families.

Remind is another very popular school communication app, used by a huge number of teachers and schools. Two-way text messaging with translation in 90+ languages is always free to use. Schools can set up a hub for school-wide messaging, admin check-ins, digital paperwork, and more. ( Explore the differences between Remind and Bloomz here.)

Cost: Chat plans for parents and teachers are completely free. School Hub plans are available in several levels; contact Remind for pricing information.

If you're looking for a custom school communication app, check out SchoolMessenger. The company will build an experience tailored to your needs and wants and integrate it with your school's website and social media. Your custom app can include messaging, attendance management, student data, and more.

Cost: Once the app is set up, parents can use it for free. Work directly with SchoolMessenger to learn more about their pricing for schools and districts.

This online program is far more than just a communication app- teachers can take advantage of a huge library of free activities and resources. The program itself was designed to be easy enough for kindergartners to use on their own, so even parents who aren't tech-savvy can navigate it. The digital portfolio is one of our favorite features, making it easy to share student work and accomplishments with their families at home.

Cost: Basic plan with many included features is free for teachers and parents. Schools can subscribe to premium plans for even more features and benefits.

Formerly known as SchoolCNXT, Snap Connect is used by New York City's public schools as well as others. It's known for helping multilingual communities communicate easily via two-way translation, letting families of all kinds stay involved in their children's education. Snap Connect also provides speech-to-text and dictation capabilities, plus group and and 1:1 messaging.

Cost: Contact Snap Connect for pricing information.

The TalkingPoints app is a basic multilingual texting tool for schools and districts to engage families from every background. Teachers and administrators can send messages and photos to individuals, small groups, or the whole community.

Cost: Individual teachers can use TalkingPoints for free with student families. Schools and districts can sign up for paid subscriptions for additional features like school-wide messaging. Contact TalkingPoints for pricing information.

What is your favorite teacher-parent communication app, and how do you use it effectively? Come share your thoughts in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE Group on Facebook.

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All posts by Jill Staake, B.S., Secondary ELA Education

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Top Teacher-Parent Communication Apps for Schools in 2023-2024

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There are a lot of them out there, so how do schools choose the best teacher-parent communication app? This information can help.