DIGITAL TOOLS:  PROVEN TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE 
COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

Today, all schools seem to be aware that digital tools were vital to the success in communicating and informing with their stakeholders.  Technology has proven to be an important tool for effective communication and collaboration.  Technology is constantly adapting and changing in the educational environment.  A good digital-age tool is one that has incorporated technology that allows (1) information to be shared quickly/instantly (2) us to perform our tasks, duties and responsibilities effectively and (3) communicate effectively in a timely manner.

One of the most important roles of an administrator is to communicate updated information quickly/instantly and effectively with their stakeholders (teachers, parents, students and community).  Also, another part of the role of an administrator is to model the use of effective technology for the staff and stakeholders; therefore knowledge and skills of various types of technology is needed.

Although email was still as a school’s digital communication, many schools were also beginning to implement other forms of digital communications (i.e.,  cell phones, internet, websites, social media, school websites, text messaging, blogs, mass phone calling, electronic boards, instant messaging) to communicate with their stakeholders.  Furthermore, some school districts change to Google and Gmail as a mail provider as their form of communication. 

All schools were aware that digital tools were vital to the success in communicating and informing with their stakeholders

DISCUSSION:

As an effective administrator for the 21^st Century, who wish to communicate updated information quickly/instantly and effectively with all of your stakeholders (i.e., teachers, parents, students and community),

Give examples and specific reasons of one important digital tool you would change/implement in your school environment and do you agree or disagree that face-to-face communication is better than other types of communication, such as letter writing, blogging, texting, social media (facebook/twitter), emails, skyping, cell phones, internet, school websites, mass phone calling, electronic boards, instant messaging or telephone calls. 

Remember to use specific reason and details to support your answer.