Skype in the Classroom

Gr5 students have recently started the new unit of inquiry Where We Are in Place and Time.   The central idea is Exploration is a response to human circumstances and curiosity which impacts people and places and students inquire on it in the context of history.   Students are wondering what motivated explorers to leave their comfort zone in search of something.  What is it that drove so many men and women in history to take on sometimes dangerous trips to the unknown?  What were the consequences of their adventures and findings to the rest of the world?

In this context, our students today had the chance to ask some of those question to a real modern day explorer.  How do you wonder?  Well, ICT is what made bringing the world into our students' classroom possible today.
Juliana, one of our Gr5 teachers contacted her personal friend Alexandre Socci to ask him if he was available for an interview from Santiago College students via Skype all the way from Brazil.   After he agreed, students prepared questions to ask him and the representatives that would address him during the interview.

Active listeners carefully taking notes of the stories Ale told

There are many ways Skype can be used in the classroom.  This is only one example of what you can do with Skype in the classroom.  You can now have guest speakers from anywhere in the world without having to leave your classroom.

Each speaker took turns to come to the computer, present themselves and ask something on behalf of his/her classmates

Alexandre shared some of his most dangerous experiences with the students, some of the places he's been to, his motivation to become a photographer, and how his contact with nature has changed him to appreciate it more and take better care of the earth.   

All in all, it was an excellent experience for both students and teachers who attended the interview.  We are all very grateful for this contact and experience that allowed us for a minute to look at the world through the lens of an adventurer and explorer.  Thank you one more time Alexandre Socci!

Who would you invite as guest speaker for your students?