Friday, April 12, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Interactivity with Tech - Skype
Keeping with this week’s theme of bringing technology and telecommunications to our classrooms, I am proud to reintroduce SKYPE to our district!
Skype is a software application that enables its users to make voice and video calls over the internet. Calls to other Skype users are free, while calls to both traditional land line telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system. Skype can also be used for instant messaging, transferring files, and video conferencing.
So…why are we talking about this?! Because – you have all Skype installed on your computers. Skype is instant messaging and video conferencing.
For instance – if you have an issue, we can communicate with you REAL TIME.
Imagine – going on a Virtual Field Trip with an explorer in the Arctic! The possibilities are endless.
How Classroom Video Conferencing Works
Not every child wakes up eager to go to school. But if that child's day involved visiting with other school children in Zimbabwe, touring a Brazilian rainforest or interviewing an astronaut, she might be more inclined to get out of bed. Enter the classroom of video conferencing, an evolving teaching method that is enhancing learning from kindergarten to graduate school. Video conferencing enables people at separate locations to communicate using video and audio transmissions and it isn't just for corporate meetings and television broadcasters anymore. With the advancements in technology that have occurred in the last several years, more educators are pulling video conferencing into their classrooms.
Video Conferencing Education
At its most basic level, video conferencing in education connects remote students to teachers. On a more exciting level, it also leads students on virtual tours, brings far-away experts on camera for interviews and allows kids to try out their fledgling foreign language skills on their peers from other countries. While such activities might have been difficult in the past due to travel costs, time constraints and inconvenience, classroom video conferencing can offer a work-around solution. Video conferencing lessons for schools can also ignite an interest and enthusiasm for learning that traditional teaching methods sometimes can't.
At its most basic level, video conferencing in education connects remote students to teachers. On a more exciting level, it also leads students on virtual tours, brings far-away experts on camera for interviews and allows kids to try out their fledgling foreign language skills on their peers from other countries. While such activities might have been difficult in the past due to travel costs, time constraints and inconvenience, classroom video conferencing can offer a work-around solution. Video conferencing lessons for schools can also ignite an interest and enthusiasm for learning that traditional teaching methods sometimes can't.
The Adventure Science Center in Nashville, TN is one of many educational institutions that deliver educational programs via video conferencing. The Adventure Science Center creates opportunities for children to learn while having fun.
Tips for Using Skype
Before the Skype session
- · Test the microphone, speakers and camera settings to make sure everything is working properly. Involve students as much as possible by assigning roles.
- · Have students practice speaking slowly and clearly.
- · If students are communicating about a prearranged topic, have a list of the students names on the board so they know the order they are participating.
- · Have students practice what they are going to say ahead of time.
- · If questions are going to be used in the skype session, prepare the questions ahead of time.
- · Organize the desks so that students can easily get to the microphone and/or camera and so that they can also be easily seen by those you are skyping with.
- · Place a "speaker chair" or mark a specific spot on the floor where students will sit/stand in order to be seen on the camera.
- · Set up an established time for the Skype session. Make sure you and your collaborator are clear on dates and times, taking into account time zone differences.
- · Arrange who is going to initiate and end the call.
- · Before placing a call, send a chat message to see if the participating class is ready. This way you’re not interrupting them if they’re busy. Even if you have an established time, it is courteous to send a quick message to make sure your collaborator is ready for the call.
- · Students should speak clearly and slowly so they can be easily understood.
- · Try not to use 'slang' language that is only from your country or region unless the meaning is explained to the participating class.
- · Make sure students don't speak too loud. This is a major cause of feedback with the microphone and speakers.
- · Only have one person speaking at a time.
- · Encourage students to say who they are before they begin speaking.
- · Have an order in which students will speak.
- · Have a set procedure, i.e. one class asks a question, the other class answers then asks their question, etc.
- · Make sure to click on the End Call button to disconnect a session. Closing or minimizing the Skype window will not end a call.
Ideas for using SKYPE
| One to One | One to Class | Class to Class |
Pen Pals
|
Calling an expert
|
Games
|
Tech Support
|
Interviewing an author
|
Debates
|
Communicate with parents/students
|
Inclusion of homebound students
|
Learn about lives/cultures
|
Job Interviews
|
Virtual Field Trips
|
Collecting data
|
Collaborate on projects
|
Professional Development
|
Learning a language
|
Collaborate with other teachers
|
Students presenting information or performing for other classes
| |
Provide mentoring or homework help
|
Sharing stories, riddles, math problems, or class artifacts
|
Inclusion with homebound students - 5th grade classroom at Agnes Risley Elementary School - Sparks, NV
Connect Nebraska - 4th grade classrooms in Nebraska who have connected with each other via Skype or iChat. Students learn about different regions of the state from kids their own age.
https://education.skype.com/
http://www.teachthought.com/technology/50-ideas-for-using-skype-in-your-classroom/
Friday, April 5, 2013
App-O-Da-Week - #1
So, you are looking for a new app?
You want it to be easy to use and understand?
You want it to be FREE?!
Well, here you go - after our great #appyhour discussion on Twitter (Fridays @2pm est) (Shameless plug) - we will be pulling the most talked about and loved app of the week for you to all!
The discussion this week centered around Productivity and Organizational apps to use in your classroom for yourself or for your students. When it came down to all the nooks and crannies of the apps talked about, one kept popping up.
http://evernote.com/penultimate/
http://blog.evernote.com/blog/2013/01/31/penultimate-4-the-best-handwriting-app-just-got-better-and-its-free/
And the +The Next Web - http://thenextweb.com/apps/2013/01/31/evernote-penultimate/
If you are looking to get one free app for organization and productivity, this one is it!
PS - The ART-O-DA series is something that I used for years with my students for extra credit - will be carrying over the practice when I first saw +Jay Eitner use it in his blog! Got to give credit where it is due!
Best,
Mr. C
You want it to be easy to use and understand?
You want it to be FREE?!
Well, here you go - after our great #appyhour discussion on Twitter (Fridays @2pm est) (Shameless plug) - we will be pulling the most talked about and loved app of the week for you to all!
The discussion this week centered around Productivity and Organizational apps to use in your classroom for yourself or for your students. When it came down to all the nooks and crannies of the apps talked about, one kept popping up.
Evernote and Penultimate!
These two apps are both FREE, use the same login and password (great for educators who can't remember one more password as it is!) and helps keep organized and tabs on your students, classrooms, and projects all at the same time.
You can input pictures from your camera, use the Notability pad as a sketch book for multiple classes, and make folders for all your students work. It takes the place of Office Apps and even Apple apps, like pages.
Don't take my word for it - check out what +Evernote has to say about it!
http://blog.evernote.com/blog/2013/01/31/penultimate-4-the-best-handwriting-app-just-got-better-and-its-free/
And the +The Next Web - http://thenextweb.com/apps/2013/01/31/evernote-penultimate/
If you are looking to get one free app for organization and productivity, this one is it!
PS - The ART-O-DA series is something that I used for years with my students for extra credit - will be carrying over the practice when I first saw +Jay Eitner use it in his blog! Got to give credit where it is due!
Best,
Mr. C
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