Skype and Google Hangouts

This class has really opened my eyes to all the resources we really have at our fingertips.  I always considered myself to be somewhat knowledgeable when it comes to technology and with practice, I can usually figure things out on my own.  However, some of the resources we have used in this class so far, like blogging and Google hangouts, I would probably not try on my own.

Our last class, we had the opportunity to try two different Google hangouts and I really enjoyed be a part of them.  It was amazing to talk "face to face" with Kathy Cassidy and ask questions about her book and her experience using technology in her own classroom.  We also had the chance to try a "mystery" Skype, in which we had to ask questions to figure out where our guest was located.  This was my first time communicating through this way, and now I can absolutely see how helpful it could be in the classroom.

My school librarian has used Skype in order to talk with authors of different books the students love; however, not all the students are able to participate in this opportunity.  It is pretty much a first come, first serve type of sign up and if the students don't sign up early enough they do not get the chance.  One thing that I would really like to try in my classroom is a mystery Skype.  It would make the students use their map skills to figure out how to ask questions on the person's location.  It also requires the students to use their speaking and listening skills to accurately communicate in order pinpoint their location.   What a great way to help students learn Geography and connect with people in different locations!

Classroom use of Twitter

I personally don't have a Twitter account, and never imagined creating one for myself.  As I am learning more and more about great online resources for the classroom, I am beginning to realize that Twitter is one of those resources.  The way my classroom would be able to connect and follow other people would really be a fun way to get the students excited to read and write.  We could follow a favorite author that we read in the classroom and then send a tweet in hopes of hearing back from him/her.  Since technology is so fast, we could possibly hear back from that author within a couple of days.

 Like Cassidy mentions in her book, Twitter got a bad reputation with people tweeting everything from their daily lives.  However, after reading this chapter on Twitter, I realized how important it could be in the classroom.  Twitter would be a good way for students to practice reading and writing.  Considering many of my students could have their own account in the next couple of years, it would also be a great way for the students to practice "safe" procedures on an online resource before they have their own accounts and are not as supervised.