Journal 4 - NETS-T 3,4,5

Join ISTE, read a journal article from Learning & Leading with Technology, reflect upon the article, and use proper APA citation using Citation Machine


Weller, T.J. (2010). Playing with skype. Learning & Leading With Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=March_April_No_6_1&Template= /MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4516&ContentID=25508&DirectListComboInd=

Playing With Skype

This article was, in my opinion, a breath of fresh air. Travis Weller explained how he stumbled upon the application after noticing the advantages of having music students meet and play for musicians and composers from locations. He could see how enormously advantageous it would be for students to hear feedback from the composers who had actually written the music they are playing for themselves and their audience. Flying every student of his halfway across the country is rarely feasible, even in good budget times.

The answer to this old problem is a modern solution called Skype. It is a web-based telecommunications platform that allowed Weller’s students to hold a live concert for experts in the field of music composition and production. Because time and money are always factors to be concerned with in public education, Skype is the answer (until something better comes along, and it probably will) in providing cheap and easy access to a type of interactive virtual field trip. Even if it hadn’t been this easy to do, the moral of the story was that if technology enriches the students’ educational experience, then it is worth the effort.

What was the equipment requirement for a Skype live concert?

According to the article, the equipment requirement is not hard to meet and many schools already have what is needed: a computer with broadband Internet, projector, microphones (the more the merrier), a webcam, some adapters to deliver the audio through the sound system, speakers, and a projector screen (or even a blank, white(ish) wall).

What are some of the pedagogical advantages to using Skype?

Again it is live, interactive feed that provides for student to receive instant feedback to their interactions. It also can give students a more realistic picture of career fields in which they might be interested or even open their eyes to careers they weren’t well aware of.