Skype-a-holics

My husband and I learned about Skype through some of our military friends and until previously, only used it to talk to each other. I was really surprised when it was an assignment in my technology class. My first thought was "Why on earth would we need to use Skype in the classroom?" Then I started thinking! The possibilities for using Skype in the classroom are exciting. First of all, we are not bound to one area. Skype is the perfect opportunity for students to connect and interact with other students in our country or in the world. It would be an "instant" penpal opportunity where students could share ideas orally and written simultaneously.

Another idea that floated around our class and the discussion board was the use of Skype to hold parent-teacher conferences. What a convenient way to accommodate all the parents who work more than one job, or have a hard time getting off one job to to meet with their child's teacher. It's at least 10x better than holding a phone conference because it's as close as a face to face without actually being in the same room. I sent home a letter to all my parents inquiring if they had a computer with internet access. In the letter I gave them step by step directions as to how to download Skype and how we would use it as a teacher-parent communication tool on an as needed basis.

What do I know about technology?

I consider myself to be technology saavy, so I was surprised to find myself struggling when we had just a few minutes to type all of the things that we considered technology. As I reread my list I notice that these are things that I personally use often. I am looking forward to learning about effectively using technology with my present students and well as the students that I will teach in the future.
Computers
Internet
i-Pod
Webcam
Skyppe
MySpace
SmartBoard
Permetheum Board
Document Camera
LCD Projector
PSP
Playstation 1
Playstation 2
Playstation 3
Sega Genesis
Electronic Chip in my car
CD Player
Disc Changer
Nintendo Game Cube
HD TV
DVD Player

Threaded Discussions

Oh how I love using threaded discussions as an adult learner! In the traditional scheme of things there are people in the world who just love to talk and then there are the people who'd rather not share their thoughts and opinions with other people. Threaded discussion is a neat tool for both types of people. For people who just love to talk, like myself, it makes you slow down and think about what you are saying and gives you more time to choose the most effective words to get your point across. The biggest plus is that the non-vocal student now has a voice! They are free to type away and participate in class discussions. I think for me the hardest part about threaded discussions was getting away from just typing to have actual conversations with my classmates. Just like with everything else, the more you do it the better you get at it!