Harnessing The Power Of Skype
1 September 2010
Des and Jo pictured during the recent event using the Skype technology.
Dr Des Hewitt and Jo Baines from the School of Education remotely delivered a lesson on occupations to a group of Year Two pupils at Ashby CoE Primary School using Skype. The lesson focused on the role of female lumberjacks, known as 'Lumber Jills', during World War 2.
Jo, attired in work overalls to add a sense of authenticity to the occasion, took the children back in time to give them a glimpse of life as a Lumber Jill. After a short break Des, dressed in authentic clothing, gave the children some insight into the life down a mine working with pit ponies. The children also adopted the roles of Florence Nightingale, a wounded soldier and David Beckham.
Skype is normally used to facilitate voice communication over the Internet, much in the same vain as a telephone call. However, over the past few months Des, Jo and Charlie Davis from CEDM have been using it to take learning outside the walls of the traditional classroom.
They have been developing a range of different uses for the technology in order to create a range of good practices that prepare students for life as 21st Century educational practitioners.
With very little research into this area, the possibility to develop new and innovative theories of practice makes this an extremely exciting time for all involved.
Article by Charlie Davies, eDevelopment
