Classroom Communication

     After reading Sail the 7 C's chapter 2 on Communicators, it has really opened my mind on all of the different ways to communicate. A perfect example would be this class specifically, we are on online based class and the only way to communicate amongst each other is through emails or through our blog posts. Keeping those paths of communication open could potentially open more doors for us students to share phone numbers, social medias, and even potentially get together in person. 

    I have been attending my entire three years of college strictly online and can honestly say I've never noticed or had such clear communication as I do now. I'm not sure if it's just due to me maturing and being more attentive to my work, or if it's the different platforms we have been given access to. We have all created social media account for this course and followed each other, liked each other's posts, commented on each other's posts, and have shared each other's posts. We also have been given access to this blog, with each blog we all individually post, we are given the opportunity to make comments and communicate on the topics being discussed. 

    When I hear communication I often think of speaking in person and making eye contact. It's never really dawned on me until reading chapter 2 that there are many different forms of communication and we have access to all of them in this course. The communication that has taken place so far this semester I can say honestly is top tier. I've seen many different opinions and views amongst all of us, but we have all kept a level of respect amongst each other and have kept our lines of communication open.

What is Communication?

During this week’s reading of
Sail The 7 C’s, we took apart information about communication and really developed it into a good lesson. I learned that communication isn’t only about speaking. It can be non verbal, written instead of using actions to effectively communicate what is being spoken. Communication can also be portrayed through translation, where students or others who’s dominant language isn’t the same as yours will be able to understand when it comes to communicating. 

I also learned that there are multiple apps that can be used to communicate. Let's take playing a game online with a friend for example. Without voice to text, or voice to voice communication features, it would practically be impossible for people to communicate with each other. Now, let's say we do take those features away. Although it seems impossible, it's not entirely yet. Communication can still happen, whether you use emotes in the game, spell something while building, or even portray in body language of the character towards others. We see that communication happens on a day to day basis, and we seem to lack the acknowledgement of it. 

Overall, communication is predominately effective to everyone around the world, despite any barriers we come across. 

Presenter Coach: AI presentation assistance

For many people, presenting is difficult. Although they try their hardest to be prepared, they ultimately may do so without proper assistance. What exactly is the goal when practicing for a presentation? Is it memorization? Is it sounding good? Is it sounding like you know what you're talking about? In the pursuit of practice, we may focus on one or none of those things. Microsoft saw this issue and, alongside their PowerPoint and with the explosion of AI, developed Presenter Coach. Which is quite literally a presentation coach. Released in 2022, Microsoft's presenter coach is "an artificial intelligence-powered technology assistant that can help teachers and students prepare for presentations," and it works by "listening to your voice as you present, scanning the slide for content, and determining what you may need to work on"(Sail the 7 Cs with Microsoft Education, communicators chapter). This tool enables the PowerPoint itself to grade how well you are presenting. Instead of consulting a multitude of websites, people, or anything else, Microsoft's AI can run and aid you from the comfort of your desk, couch, chair, or really anywhere you can set up and work. As AI continues to become refined, this tool will surely be improved to understand more within whatever context is presented to it. Now, safety and privacy could be a concern with voice recording. However, Microsoft does not store information or voice logs, instead, Presenter Coach simply gives feedback and deletes voice logs afterwards(Sail the 7 Cs with Microsoft Education, communicators chapter). This is important because it reinforces Microsoft's stance on privacy and really shows that they care for the protection of students or youth who use their tool.

In the classroom, both students and teachers can utilize this tool. Teachers, to prepare for a lesson that involves lecturing off slides; Students, to prepare for a project that has them reading off slides. Of course, eventually, maybe with the aid of Presenter Coach, both students and teachers should become capable of presenting and not reading off slides. With the ability to publically speak so important, Presenter Coach proves to be a valuable tool to aid those who struggle in that sector and to help those who are skilled refine said skills. Tools like this, built in for free, are reasons why PowerPoint is the number 1 presentation software worldwide. As long as Microsoft continues to produce new tools and refine preexisting tools that aid students and teachers alike, it will continue to be on top of the presentation software industry. PowerPoint Presenter Coach is a perfect example of Microsoft adapting to the rise of AI and harnesing it to create opportunities for their users. 

Bridging the Language Gap with Microsoft Translator

    In the diverse learning environments of today, effective communication between educators, students, and families is more important than ever. Many students come from multilingual backgrounds, and language barriers can create challenges in learning, engagement, and family involvement. As educators, we need to ensure that every student and their family feels heard, understood, and supported regardless of what language they speak.

Why Language Accessibility Matters

     With the multicultural nature of schools and with students and families speaking a wide range of languages, many schools are struggling. This struggle with providing translation services is due to a lack of resources with hiring language interpreters for each language being very costly. I have found that there is another way to help break the language barrier through the use of technology, in this case using Microsoft Translator.

How Microsoft Translator can Help

     Microsoft Translator is a powerful tool that allows educators, students, and families to communicate in multiple languages in real time. Whether through text translation, live captions, or speech to text conversations, this tool makes multilingual communication seamless. Using Microsoft Translator educators can effectively translate in real time during parent teacher meetings which ensures that every family has access to important information. Teachers can also use Translator to translate instructions and lessons to make sure that non English learners don't fall behind.

Using Microsoft Translator

The best part about Microsoft Translator is its ease of use. Teachers, students, and parents can access it through a mobile app or integrate it with platforms like OneNote and Word for written translations. It’s a simple yet powerful way to ensure that no one feels left out due to language differences. If you’re an educator looking for ways to improve communication in your school, Microsoft Translator is a tool worth exploring.

 

Communicating With Sway

Why is communication important?

Communication is a vital component of any classroom, as it fosters an environment where ideas, knowledge, and feedback can be shared effectively. Strong communication allows teachers to clearly

explain concepts and ensure students grasp the material being taught. It also encourages student engagement, as learners feel more comfortable asking questions, participating in discussions, and expressing their thoughts. When students communicate clearly, they can better understand concepts, ask for clarification, and express their ideas confidently. This encourages collaboration with peers, allowing them to share knowledge, solve problems together, and develop critical thinking skills. Furthermore, students who can communicate well are more likely to succeed in academic and social settings, as they are able to articulate their needs, listen actively, and contribute to group discussions. 

About Sway:

Knowing how beneficial communication is in a classroom full of students, it is important to find tools that can help grow positive communication. One incredible tool is Microsoft Sway. Sway is a versatile digital tool that allows users to create visually engaging presentations, reports, content, and actively engage with others. It fosters collaboration by allowing multiple users to work on a project at the same time, making it easier to share ideas and updates in that moment. Its integration with other Microsoft tools, such as OneDrive and Teams, enhances seamless collaboration, allowing team members to contribute and edit content from anywhere. Most importantly, Sway strengthens communication by providing a tool where users can express ideas clearly and creatively. The ability to add text, images, videos, and interactive elements makes it an effective tool for conveying information in an engaging and accessible way. There is an incredible video that will be linked here that shows how to use Sway and how to create a newsletters, presentations, and webpages!

How does Sway grow students' communication skills?

Microsoft Sway is excellent in helping students grow their communication skills by allowing them to create interactive, multimedia-rich presentations. With Sway, students can organize and express their ideas in a dynamic and visually appealing way, through incorporating text, images, videos, and even charts. This encourages them to present information creatively and more effectively, making it easier for both them and their peers to understand complex topics. This tool’s collaborative features enable students to work together, providing a platform for easy communication and teamwork. By using Sway, students can improve their ability to communicate ideas clearly, engage their audience, and collaborate with others, all while developing a deeper understanding of the subject matter. 

Personal Note:

After discovering Sway through my course book Sail the 7Cs With Microsoft Education, I was immediately impressed and eager to start using it. With several upcoming projects in my classes, I'm excited to dive in and explore its incredible abilities. What’s even better is that learning and mastering collaboration and communication tools like Sway, will allow me to leverage them to enhance my future students' learning experiences!