ePals1

=**Communication Tool:**= Group Members: Dacia Sachtjen


 * Brief introduction of the tool**

Epals is a K-12 learning Network that allows a parent/teacher to set up an account for a student to be able to have an email account. The adults email account is the first one to be activated and the child takes time to be approved to be able to connect to other classrooms. The child's account can be monitored by the adults. The adult can read all incoming and outgoing messages. Epals is completely monitored and safe for students to use. Students can begin to have online Pen Pals.

**//Advantages of the tool//**
 * Allows for students and teacher to interact around the world
 * Allows for a Creative, Safe, Learning Environment
 * Introduces to Students to a more College like Atmosphere
 * Epals is Free
 * Allows Students to work on Group Projects even when at home
 * No Downloads needed
 * Has a Translation tool which allows for people of different languages to communicate
 * Improves student communication (particularly writing)
 * Acts as a motivation tool for students
 * //Disadvantages (limitations) of the tool//**

· The tool needs to be more intuitive. For instance, most of the projects are just listed out, this makes the site crowded and the user may overlook pertinent details regarding his subject. I would have preferred to see hierarchy of how the site is structured. None of the menus tell you what various offerings exist on this site at a glance.
 * Allows students to email for non-educational reasons during class time
 * There is no filter system for the emails, the teacher has to read them all to monitor them
 * The activate process takes time
 * The setting up process takes time.
 * Application of the tool in your subject area**

Considering that I want to teach first grade, I don't see first grades needing to do too much emailing back and forth between each other for classroom projects, but I do see the benefits when it comes to connecting with other classrooms around the world. The students can have pen pals in different countries to gain an understanding of a different culture, or even just start a project, with a class in a different state.

Connecting with students somewhere else, I think will motivate the students more, and enhance the learning experience. It will make students more excited to work on the project.

media type="youtube" key="Gz5xZQYOb8g" height="385" width="480"

If your classmates want to learn more about your topic, where should they go? Please recommend 3 websites or more. [] [] []
 * Useful Resources**