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Press and Journal Photo/Debra Schell ~Third graders Anthony Holmes, left, and Jade Senior chat with Middletown Area High School sophomore Brandon Lee via Skype, which allows people to talk face-to-face over the Internet.
Skype in the classroom Technology brings students together
by Debra Schell
Press And Journal Staff
: 12/23/2009
Anthony Holmes, a third grader at Reid Elementary School, wants to be a motocross or BMX racer when he grows up.
When talking with a sophomore at Middletown Area High School via Skype, the online telephone-video service, the sophomore said it might be tough to get into BMX racing.
“He told me that it is really hard work,” said Holmes, who also said he wants to be a football star.
The project was designed to allow third graders to talk with high school students about their experiences and career pathways, said to Anna Smith, the elementary school counselor.
The three-day project was developed by Smith and Justine Shippling, high school multimedia design and futures teacher.
“The tech department helped to get it set up. It took a couple months,” said Shippling.
Third graders got a chance to ask high school students what it is like to be in high school. They also got tips and suggestions about future career paths, all without leaving the classroom.
“We wanted the students to learn about technology and communication in addition to learning about different careers,” Shippling said.
Twenty third-grade students on 16 computers talked to about 50 high school students, who participated in the program, according to Smith and Shippling.
The third graders were assigned to interview a parent or other adult about their career and then review the answers with a high school student via the computer.
The students were also able to tell the high school students what they wanted to do when they grew up, and get ideas on how long it will take to earn a degree in that field.
“It’s an awesome project,” said Earl Bright, principal of Reid Elementary School.
“I am glad to see the staff embracing technology and trying new things,” said Bright.
John Brougher, director of Technology and Communications at MASD, said he plans for more projects like this one.
“We are starting small, but this gives us the ability to reach anyone in the world,” he said.
Using Skype, which is free, students could conduct interviews with speakers from other states, or countries, Brougher said.
“It was fun,” said Jade Senior, a third grader who participated in the project.
“I like that I could see them, and we don’t get to talk to people on the computer very often,” she said.
Contact Debra at 717-944-4628 or e-mail dschell@pressandjournal.com.
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