Journal 9

Virtual Schooling
by
Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser

Virtual Schooling (VS) is definitely going to be the new way teachers and students communicate their work. Unknown to me there are already programs that have high school students that have some of their classes online. VS, as proven in the article is a great way in which students can be introduced to technology and are accurately encouraged to do so. Video conferencing is an exciting way for the class to get together with their teachers and fellow students so they can still have class. I especially was encouraged by the fact that VS is an alternative to the No Child Left behind Act of 2001. Now parents can have their children attend schools outside their neighborhood but the child will never have to leave. The delicate part of the program is to make sure that all the parties involved stay together. There are administrators, designers, facilitators, IT coordinators, parents, students, and teachers that all have to be on the same page to make sure that this program works. It has succeeded on a small scale but I am skeptical that it will work on a large scale. I would love for this to work, not only for the students, but for the teachers. It would force them to learn new ways to tech their students. Some teachers are stuck in the past and are unwilling to change their ways and incorporate technology into their curriculum.

What are the drawbacks of this program?
One of the drawbacks that I see is the fact that there are already students that do not show up to class. So what makes us think that when they have an opportunity to stay home that they will get online?

How would you add to the program if it was incorporated in your school?
I would have each student take one class overseas so they could experience a new way of teaching and culture.

Journal 8

The 1,000-Mile Microphone Cable
By Glen Bull

Connecting classrooms through a program called Skype with a $20 microphone can connect computers from all over the world. The SkypeOut program will allow a computer to connect to any phone within the United States and Canada for only $30 and the calls are unlimited for an entire year. With Skype a person can set up a conference call with up to 10 people if need be. If a teacher wants, the class can have an over the phone interview with a person on the opposite side of the country using this technology. The MX Skype Recorder can also be used when conducting the interview so the class can record it. This can allow the class to have a reference for future work or future classes can also use this recorded resource tool. Another program in the Skype family is, StoryCorps which encourages people to record interviews of people that lived years ago. There is an example in the article of an interview done with a man born in 1905; he was 101 at the time of the interview. He was able to give a link to the past and his interview was digitally recorded and will be saved forever giving people a look into events past.

How would you use this technology in the classroom?
Well from a history prospective this technology can be highly valuable in the classroom. Being able to interview a Vietnam veteran when the class is studying about the war is an excellent tool.

Do you think that the schools should sponsor this technology?
I think they should. Maybe not for each class, but have a couple in the media center or computer lab for community use.