|
As more teachers use technology, more tools will become available to them. As teachers, we must decide which tools are in
the best interest for our students, and equally important, which tools are safe. I like to introduce an email service that
allows schools to feel secure about giving their students email access. This tool is called Gaggle.net.
Gaggle.net email service can easily be obtained; it provides mail service through the use of the Web. The authors of
Gaggle.net are leading developers of numerous educational software programs. They have created an email service specifically
designed for classroom use, but can be accessed from the library or even from home. Schools do not need to purchase any hardware
or software for the installation of Gaggle.net. It is made for learners as young as 8 years old to 18 years. It is simple
to use and children can not break it. An important feature included for teachers is the monitoring and control over suspicious
mail. The system automatically blocks curse words, pornographic emails, and outside emails. The system allows the teacher
to decide what will reach the students. Also, the system allows teachers to facilitate email projects and monitor student
tasks.
Gaggle.net features for students include online file storage and file sharing, a built- in language translation support
for thirteen different languages, a controlled chat system with text filtering and reporting of inappropriate chat, and of
course the use of sending and receiving messages.
Surprisingly, Gaggle.net is used in over 12,000 schools. Many teachers have come to love this tool and highly recommend
it. I think that I will use this tool because I like its safety features of blocking curse words and pornographic emails,
and of the chat feature that is made available for students to have easy access to teacher if help is needed.
Gaggle.net
|
