Videoconferencing in the Classroom Developing interactive videoconferencing
across the curriculum in the UK and around the world
|
Videoconferencing in the Classroom Developing interactive videoconferencing across the curriculum in the UK and around the world |
“THE VIDEOCONFERENCING
IN THE CLASSROOM PROJECT”
Global Leap www.global-leap.com
in association with
ICT in Schools, The Department for Education and Skills, UK
Videoconferencing is - quite simply - a vehicle
for interactive communication. Like all good ideas, it is very simple.
It enables one set of people to see and hear other people.
Video-conferencing is not new. It has been around for 10 years,
but has never been used extensively in mainstream education, until
now. Today things are very different: The equipment gives high quality
pictures and sound, it is reliable and very easy to use.
It brings the world into the classroom enabling pupils to speak
directly to their peers in other places around the world. When used
effectively the technology becomes invisible.
There can be few more effective ways of transforming education,
as we are currently being bidden to do by government, than by getting
pupils to put down their pens or their mice and talk. Videoconferencing
provides a perfect opportunity to improve pupils' speaking and listening
skills, which are both important key elements of the English National
Curriculum across all key stages.
Demonstrate and develop your pupils' presentation skills as they
work with different audiences in different locations. Develop your
pupils' thinking and investigation skills, and increase their knowledge
as they make links with partners.
Talk to education staff at museums such as, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Maritime Museum or The Public Record Office where national archives are available to your pupils and can be explained by the experts.
Geography classes can ask their partners, "What is it like
where you live?" They can discover and explore similarities
and differences between geographical locations at home and abroad.
Let your pupils become the "experts" as they share their
knowledge and understanding of their region with other pupils, or
present their GCSE English oral talk to students in another part
of the country, or the world.
Explore and debate issues that affect our lives and the world around
us. Increase your pupils' experience and awareness of moral and
ethical issues such as Religion and World Health.
Learning French is much more fun (and hence effective) if you can talk to French school pupils of your own age about things of mutual interest on a daily basis. Carefully planned use of video conferencing is the ideal resource for bringing the world into your classroom and talking to it. Who could ask for more?
So…Don't be surprised when previously disillusioned children become motivated, when a link to a French or German school adds value to your MFL programme, when seeing artefacts from museums and talking to experts creates deeper levels of understanding, when pupils ask pertinent questions of Prime Ministers and eminent professors, and don't be surprised when your class' knowledge and awareness about other cultures and nations increases when they speak to them face-to-face.
Enthusiastic and motivated teachers and their school partners can develop all kinds of exciting projects using videoconferencing as a resource in the classroom. Don't forget that the driving force behind all the technology, the innovations, the pilot programmes and the trial lessons is that one vital ingredient that transforms teaching and learning in the classroom and raises standards - a good teacher.
© December 2002
"Videoconferencing in the Classroom Project" Global Leap
www.global-leap.com
This page was last modified Saturday, May 20, 2006 by the Webmaster
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