What it is?
Collaborative learning is beneficial for enhancing student understanding and student skill. Working with others, students can share ideas to gain a more complete view point. However, students from a variety of perspectives are not always available in the classroom. Collaborative Skype calls and Google hangouts can be used to meet and talk with other students from around the world.
How it is used?
By visiting one of the sites, a class can set up a Skype call. Teachers must first connect to another classroom which can often be done through professional learning communities.
Why I would use it?
In my classroom, I would activities such as the mystery Skype call above to connect students with people who may be different from them. While meeting new people, students can learn and practice skills similar to the example below.
Collaborative learning is beneficial for enhancing student understanding and student skill. Working with others, students can share ideas to gain a more complete view point. However, students from a variety of perspectives are not always available in the classroom. Collaborative Skype calls and Google hangouts can be used to meet and talk with other students from around the world.
How it is used?
By visiting one of the sites, a class can set up a Skype call. Teachers must first connect to another classroom which can often be done through professional learning communities.
Why I would use it?
In my classroom, I would activities such as the mystery Skype call above to connect students with people who may be different from them. While meeting new people, students can learn and practice skills similar to the example below.
Google Hangouts
Similar to Skype, Google hangouts are an online video chat system using google as a host. These video chats can be a great platform for communicating to other teachers, encouraging collaborative work. Below is an example of a collaborative work using Google Hangouts.