Journal # 9: Playing with Skype

Weller, T.J. (2010). Playing with skype. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/20100304#pg30

Skype is a online video telephone service that is easy, cheap and requires little computer knowledge to use it.  Traditionally skype has been used by people who wish to talk to each other over long distances without paying long distances fees.  In fact skye is actually better than a telephone because it is used in conjunction with a video camera so the individuals who are conversing can actually pick up on subtle facial expressions that would go unnoticed over the phone.  Mr. Weller came up with the idea of integrating this technology into the classroom so that music conductors could actually bring their live orchestras into the classroom.  This isn't too different from a previous blog post that I wrote about interactive field trips.  However, skype is actually better than the technology that I described in the previous post because it is cheap and doesn't require an person to have access to a scarce and expensive machine.

Why was this idea so successful for integration into Mr. Weller's music room?
The  music conductor was actually able to see and interact with Mr. Weller's class before the performance so that he could explain what his envision of the music is.  Additionally, the low cost, user friendly program was highly accessible for his room as it would be for most classrooms in the states.  With emerging technology such as this, the teacher is no longer the absolute educator in the room.  The possibilities are practically endless as far as what professionals the students can interact with.

What are some possible complications that one might encounter while trying to utilize Skype video conferencing?  Skype does require a broadband internet connection.  As we all know, not all internet connections are equal and it would be unfortunate if in the middle of a classroom skype conversation, the internet connection was suddenly lost for whatever reason.  However, interent connections are much more stable now then they used to be when we all used dial-up connections and I think that this problem would be rare.