Free online class? Can it be true? Yes! This week our task was to find a free/open source course and participate in the class. I choose a program called “Skype in the Classroom.” It is an online professional development class that was originally developed for teachers in Baldwin County Public Schools. The purpose of the course is to introduce teachers to Skype and discuss how Skype can be used to enhance classroom essons. I choose this class because I am new to Skyping and would like to know how to Skype so I can use it with my Kindergarteners this year!
The design of the course was very basic, easy to understand and could be completed in about a week. There were 4 main self-guided topics. Each topic had two questions at the end. These questions were basic and did not encourage reflection of blooms higher order of thinking. The class presented the materials in a variety of ways, including videos, tutorials, reading, and researching.
I particularly liked how Skype was introduced. It was very visual! I first watch a video called Skype Explained Visually, and then read about what Skype was on Wikipedia. To further help explain Skype we experienced it in action. There was a video of a class using Skype to talk to a truck driver. They had read a book called “Dear Mr. Henshaw.” The main characters dad was a truck driver. The students wanted to get a better understanding of what it was like to be a truck driver so
they Skyped in with a truck driver. The kids asked questions like where do you sleep in your truck and do you enjoy your job. It was eye opening to see and hear the kids response to their questions.
It was in real time and they even got to see the inside of the truck through the Skype camera.
The next topics involved downloading Skype and connecting with other teachers in the class via Skype. There were tutorial videos to watch every step of the way. We had to research about how to use Skype in the classroom and post articles and resources for others to view. The culminating task for the course was to create a lesson plan that telling how we were going to use Skype with our students to address one of state standards we are responsible for teaching. Overall it was a great experience! I was able to connect with different teachers and learn how they would use Skype in their classroom. My lesson plan idea was Skyping to Kindergarten classes around the world and creating a Wiki entitled “Kindergarten Around the World” where every class would post pictures or presentations of what a day looks like in Kindergarten. Our kids could ask each other questions and learn about each other’s culture.
One of the benefits I liked about taking this class online was that I was able to go at my pace. I was able to watch the video and pause it to actually follow the steps to set up Skype. It was very
valuable. I think this lesson is a perfect example of how online learning can be better than the traditional classroom. I would not have had time to explore resources on my own and connect to the literature I read if I had been in a classroom environment. In the classroom I always feel rushed to be done, so I wouldn’t be the last person finished. Being the last person, in my eyes insinuated that I was a slow reader. If you have never experienced taking an online class I would suggest you give it a try. You just might be surprised how much you like it!
The design of the course was very basic, easy to understand and could be completed in about a week. There were 4 main self-guided topics. Each topic had two questions at the end. These questions were basic and did not encourage reflection of blooms higher order of thinking. The class presented the materials in a variety of ways, including videos, tutorials, reading, and researching.
I particularly liked how Skype was introduced. It was very visual! I first watch a video called Skype Explained Visually, and then read about what Skype was on Wikipedia. To further help explain Skype we experienced it in action. There was a video of a class using Skype to talk to a truck driver. They had read a book called “Dear Mr. Henshaw.” The main characters dad was a truck driver. The students wanted to get a better understanding of what it was like to be a truck driver so
they Skyped in with a truck driver. The kids asked questions like where do you sleep in your truck and do you enjoy your job. It was eye opening to see and hear the kids response to their questions.
It was in real time and they even got to see the inside of the truck through the Skype camera.
The next topics involved downloading Skype and connecting with other teachers in the class via Skype. There were tutorial videos to watch every step of the way. We had to research about how to use Skype in the classroom and post articles and resources for others to view. The culminating task for the course was to create a lesson plan that telling how we were going to use Skype with our students to address one of state standards we are responsible for teaching. Overall it was a great experience! I was able to connect with different teachers and learn how they would use Skype in their classroom. My lesson plan idea was Skyping to Kindergarten classes around the world and creating a Wiki entitled “Kindergarten Around the World” where every class would post pictures or presentations of what a day looks like in Kindergarten. Our kids could ask each other questions and learn about each other’s culture.
One of the benefits I liked about taking this class online was that I was able to go at my pace. I was able to watch the video and pause it to actually follow the steps to set up Skype. It was very
valuable. I think this lesson is a perfect example of how online learning can be better than the traditional classroom. I would not have had time to explore resources on my own and connect to the literature I read if I had been in a classroom environment. In the classroom I always feel rushed to be done, so I wouldn’t be the last person finished. Being the last person, in my eyes insinuated that I was a slow reader. If you have never experienced taking an online class I would suggest you give it a try. You just might be surprised how much you like it!