I read “Interactive Videoconferencing: Planting the Seeds for Global Learning and Caring.” I love how this article stresses the unlimited learning opportunities we have with videoconferencing. Breaking down the 4 walls we teach within, and entering into a classroom made up of the entire world! Instead of students reading about experiences other students have in other locations, or meeting with an expert on an area being studied, they can actually interact with them face to face. Interactive videoconferencing requires those involved to converse with others. Not just sit back and take it all in. We are so “techy” these days….a real conversation doesn’t happen like it use to! “Interactive videoconferencing allows students to engage in the LOST ART of human interaction.”
How many experts did we have in school teaching/sharing their experiences with us? How many other students were we able to interact with across the globe? How many amazing field trips did we experience hundreds of thousands of miles away from home??
I teach 2nd grade at Mars Elementary in Berrien Springs. I am fortunate to have a very diverse class every year. It would be wonderful to be able to connect with the many countries that are represented in my classroom. The students from the US would be amazed to see where many of their peers come from. How exciting it would be for a child to have us visit his or her home country!
Videoconferencing certainly opens up a whole new world not only to our students, but to us as educators as well!
