Getting an Education on Free Power Boards

                Freepowerboards.com has added a new dimension to my teaching repertoire and has helped to enhance my relationship building within a new segment of my student population.

                After becoming sold on the idea of message boards—or forums, if you prefer—for my personal use, I decided why not try one for the classroom? After all, it would potentially allow for frequent communication between teacher and students, and student-to-student interaction as well. I imagined that it would prove a good venue for posting homework hints, field trip information, notes, and so on. I told myself that if just one student were to consistently use it, then it would qualify as a success. Now that I’m nearing the end of this school year, I can unequivocally exclaim that my Free Power Board’s forum has been a resounding success—exceeding my wildest expectations.

                After an initial wave of students signing up, I eventually gained a core group of students who frequent my board on a daily basis. They use it to retrieve homework information, gain additional practice, ask questions, and exchange messages with their friends in lieu of e-mail, instant message, or myspace. I received many compliments from parents, as they were happy that my forum represents a controlled environment—unlike myspace. I was initially concerned that the ease in which students could contact me might undermine my role as the authority figure in the classroom, but this proved anything but the case. In fact, the core group of students visiting my Free Power Board account for my most cooperative, polite, and respectful students yet. Studies prove that education is all about building relationships, and Free Power Boards has given me a way to reach more students than ever. I call my board “Mr. Hansen’s Online Community,” and it’s just that—a community of learners.

Here is a list of just some of the ways Free Power Boards has served as an asset in my classroom:

     - Students post their questions and concerns regarding class work on the forums, or via private messages.

     - I provide links to helpful websites and online textbook examples.

     - Students who are absent contact me for missing assignments.

     - Students are able to post concerns they do not feel comfortable voicing in class.

     - I empower select students to serve as moderators. In fact, one student created a Writing Forum to discuss poetry and to publish original works.

     - By using a poll option, students are able to vote regarding which field trips and types of luncheons they prefer.

     - Students easily upload pictures to share with the online community.

     - Students enjoy customizing avatars and signatures to personalize their FPB profile.

     - I embed You Tube videos I record that serve as video tutorials on how to solve math problems, in case students need a refresher. This was a major hit with parents.

     - I use some of the arcade games as in-class bonuses for students completing problems correctly at the chalkboard.

                Above all, the biggest compliment I can pay Free Power Boards is that my students requested that I help them launch a second board for their use throughout High School as they exit my 8^th grade math class. This was unexpected, and a true acknowledgment of the value that this tool has in the arena of education. Take all of this, factor in the tremendous support and reliability of Free Power Boards, and be ready to add a dramatic new element to your classroom too.

Sincerely,

Ryan Hansen

http://www.freepowerboards.com/mrhansen/