As times trudges on, so do many aspects of society. But one very broad aspect, that I think is obviously advancing as society grows, is technology. As new technology is made, sold, and used, it changes our way of life. And though there can be negative ways that new technology affects parts of society, the way technology is impacting, and can impact, education is definitely a positive affect.
A few days ago I experienced a Skype video chat for a project in school. I enjoyed doing so because the way it took place was a new educational way to function this software to me. For those of you who do not know what a Skype is, it's basically a global video chat where you can visually communicate with someone else while hearing them. The name "Skype" came from the two words, "Sky" and "Peer", representing how you can communicate with anyone anywhere. Although, to take part in a Skype you must first install a certain software into your computer, and have a camera also connected to your computer. This is exceptionally helpful when trying to keep long distance face-to-face communication with someone.
On the other hand, though, the particular Skype video chat that I took part in, was where we communicated with superintendents from another school district. Some of the other classmates and I who participated in the Skype made sure to dress in our best clothing and be very quiet while our classmates were speaking, because it was very important to make a good impression on them. But, In this Skype session there was a catch! The location of the superintendents remained a mystery until the end, so we had to use our minds (I loved this part) to think about geographical questions that we could track down and record to help piece their overall location together. While participating in the activity, I realized you needed a lot of knowledge on geography to back you up on your thoughts and questions. Even at times, you caught yourself thinking about certain pin-points of geography when you didn't mean to.
But that was the point of the mystery Skype that I did, to learn something new. Just as it is in every activity at school. We all learned from it. For, one simple question, one simple Skype, one new way to use technology in school, can teach you a whole lot.
A few days ago I experienced a Skype video chat for a project in school. I enjoyed doing so because the way it took place was a new educational way to function this software to me. For those of you who do not know what a Skype is, it's basically a global video chat where you can visually communicate with someone else while hearing them. The name "Skype" came from the two words, "Sky" and "Peer", representing how you can communicate with anyone anywhere. Although, to take part in a Skype you must first install a certain software into your computer, and have a camera also connected to your computer. This is exceptionally helpful when trying to keep long distance face-to-face communication with someone.
On the other hand, though, the particular Skype video chat that I took part in, was where we communicated with superintendents from another school district. Some of the other classmates and I who participated in the Skype made sure to dress in our best clothing and be very quiet while our classmates were speaking, because it was very important to make a good impression on them. But, In this Skype session there was a catch! The location of the superintendents remained a mystery until the end, so we had to use our minds (I loved this part) to think about geographical questions that we could track down and record to help piece their overall location together. While participating in the activity, I realized you needed a lot of knowledge on geography to back you up on your thoughts and questions. Even at times, you caught yourself thinking about certain pin-points of geography when you didn't mean to.
But that was the point of the mystery Skype that I did, to learn something new. Just as it is in every activity at school. We all learned from it. For, one simple question, one simple Skype, one new way to use technology in school, can teach you a whole lot.
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