Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system. Skype has also become popular for its additional features which include instant messaging, file transfer, and video conferencing (see video on right).
Skype can also be used in classrooms to communicate with people in different places. Students from the Gideon Elementary skyped with people from China as a part of a lesson that they were doing! Wow! Interested in seeing the video? Click here. Technology is amazing.
Try incorporating Skype into one of your lessons. For a great learning experience, click here for informal and formal ways you can incorporate Skype into the classroom. I'm sure your students will love it! To download Skype, click here.
Talk about embracing technology at school! Open High School, the first secondary school to implement an Open Source curriculum, is the epitome of such.
This approach may just be the transition that some schools (K-12) may go to. We have learned and I have stated previously that technology is ever changing. As a result, teachers have learned and currently implement new technological strategies into classrooms on a daily basis. But, implementing online education across the board in post secondary education is interesting.
Perhaps advancing to this approach transfers the accountability level for students and parents. The setting goes from formal to somewhat informal and from teacher-centered to student-centered. The teachers will actually serve as the Facilitators whereas the students must heavily rely on computer competence and doing their own work based off of instructions given via web (and not so much verbally, although some may be on site for assistance).
This setting also reminds me of a collegiate online degree or courses if you will. In addition, this approach to education resembles Blackboard, the only difference is that they can physically see their instructor (unless they are elsewhere) and blackboard users cannot (unless they visit the instructor’s office).
One of my concerns with this approach is the data collection process in which teachers search for information to bring to the classroom, sounds normal in a sense.But, I wonder if the teachers compare this with Utah’s standard course of study and build upon goals and objectives when presenting/uploading lessons.My last concern is, is it too much too soon? Are high school students ready for this? Maybe some are maybe some are not. But if it works, then that is a sign of change to come. After all, if we don’t challenge our students and continually present them with new advances and approaches to technology of the 21st century, are we doing our jobs as educators?
