Journal #9 (NETS V)

 In this Journal i learned about skyping and how it can be used in the classroom. NETS IV was used as i learned about internet safety and how when using skype how i need to, as a teacher, be aware of what my students are doing, and as a parent, need to monitor what my children do on the internet. 


Playing with Skype
by Travis J. Weller

I've heard skype used for many things, although i have never used it for myself. Playing with skype is about a teacher who felt the need to have composers at his 8th grade classes performance. Travis goes to explain all the materials needed to make this possible and the outcome that his class recieved from it. Because of the easy-to-use skype, which allows someone to be seen via the internet and to be heard just as well as in person, travis uses skype to have his class be introduced and talked to by a well written composer. With the use of skype Travis had the composers introduce thier musical pieces before the class played them, which also gave the composers the opportunity to be at the concert without having to leave thier home. The 8th grade teacher goes on to explain how easy skype is to use, and the fact that it's free is just a bonus.

How effective do you think Skpye will be in the classroom?
I think that the idea of using skype in the classroom sounds brilliant, but after reading this post it seems more difficult then it sounds. In order for the teacher to have the composers successfully at his classes performance there were many materials needed that not all schools will have. Other than that it was noted that some college kids came to help with the behind the scenes, and it doesn't go into detail aboout how much work they actually did in order for this to be successful.

What else could skype be used for in the classroom?
I think that skype could be used in the classroom without having to go through a bunch of trouble. Instead of a class going on a fieldtrip, they could have a virtual fieldtrip using skype. To do this a tourguide to a museum would be followed around as he/she explain where she is going and what the students are viewing. Skype could also be used to be introduced to an author of a book that the class is reading, but if the author is too old or too far away to visit it would be a neat experience to be able to interview or talk to them via skype.