Sunday, August 9, 2009

Using Skype in the classroom can promote communities within a school or globally

While pondering how one would use Skype in the classroom, I stumbled across a website called “blue tongue lizard, vegemite and cricket, what the”, which was created by Anne Mirtschin, an Information Technology/Accounting teacher from country Victoria. She states, and I quote “Web 2.0 has become a passion of mine and I love this journey I have taken with my classes.” This year she has several goals for her classes, but sees the continuation and extension of the virtual classroom with connections to the globe as paramount. After a little more playing and investigation I discovered that this site was set up through Global Teacher which is a virtual blogging environment which promotes curriculum excellence through the use of Web 2.0 technology.
In my opinion, Anne Mirtschin has, very successfully, used Kearsley and Shneiderman (2009), Engagement Theory as a learning model where EFFECTIVE learning is occurring through a technology-based environment. As suggested by Kearsley and Shneiderman, her students are engaged in course work through the use of the three primary means to accomplish engagement, those being;
1. an emphasis on collaborative efforts
2. project-based assignments and
3. a non-academic focus
By incorporating these methods into her classrooms has resulted in learning that is creative, meaningful, and authentic.
What she has achieved with her classes is truly inspiring. Take a look

Department of education and early childhood development. (2008). Global teacher - blog directory and web 3.0 community. Retrieved August 9th, 2009, from http://globalteacher.org.au/

Kearsley, G & Shneiderman, B. (2009). Engagement theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved 31st July, 2009 from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Mirtschin, A. (2009). Ejourney with techokids. Retrieved August 9th, 2009, from http://murch.globalteacher.org.au/2007/12/07/blue-tongue-lizard-vegemite-and-cricket-what-the





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