Video Conferencing in the Classroom

Standard III: Model Digital Age Work and Learning B. Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.

• Video conferencing is a great tool to get students more involved in and out of the classroom. They get to see the world outside of the four walls that surround them as they are enjoying the learning process in that same space. It gives them new opportunities to interact with others that they do not normally have the chance to come in contact with and see opportunities they have outside of the classroom. 

This lesson plan by Tina Brown titled "Fun with Dr. Suess"  is something that I feel would bring a lot of fun into the classroom with many educational benefits. Two classrooms, one full of bilingual Spanish speaking students and the other English only speaking students, come together through video conferencing to talk about their similar love for Dr. Suess, read books together in both languages, vote for their favorite book, graph the results, and ask questions about the results.  At this age (2nd grade) kids are enthralled with Dr. Suess, as well as anything that is new and different to them. These two mixed together automatically become exciting and, I feel, would make the kids want to come in and learn everyday. They get the chance to interact  with students that bring them new cultural experiences, but are also able to see the similar interests that they share.