MDS BLOG

Just ten years ago, the idea of a classroom of children talking to another classroom of children across the globe seemed like a pipe dream. But with Skype’s In the Classroom initiative, connecting students and teachers all over the world is just a click away. Skype is a software application that enables users to make video and voice calls via the Internet; Skype also has an instant message feature. Its uses in the classroom open a host of options for both teachers and students.

Launched in March of this year, the service has become a popular teaching and learning tool: more than 16,000 teachers are leading more than 800 projects with their students. The advantages of Skype in the Classroom are evident, but the possibilities for higher education are still being explored. Aside from the benefits it could lend to online education, traditional education programs can also be enhanced with Skype.

Taking the distance out of distance education

Colleges and universities have kept up with technology, and many offer online courses. But few incorporate Skype, which could allow students and instructors to meet face to face no matter where they are. For online classes that meet asynchronously, students could start study groups that meet at convenient times and work on group projects—all without the hassle of finding a physical place to meet. And for collaborations on research projects that involve multiple universities, Skype can make traveling unnecessary, which is a great way for universities to save money.

Instant office hours

Because today’s professors have such hectic schedules, office hours are sometimes sporadic and unpredictable. But with Skype, professors and instructors can meet with students face-to-face at times that are more convenient for both parties. This can be especially useful for graduate students and their project directors—grad students often have other jobs or fellowships, which means they don’t have a lot of free time. A quick Skype chat can save hours of travel and preparation time.

Educating the masses

As higher education costs continue to rise, the dream of a college education is out of reach for more students than ever before. But several universities are using the Internet to teach college courses on a massive scale. With online video chat programs like Skype, it’s possible to educate hundreds—maybe thousands—of students at once. Skype can also be used to reach students in rural or low-income areas. Of course, the digital divide—low access to the Internet among rural and poor communities—is still an issue, but finding ways to broaden the scope of the Internet includes finding low-costs ways to reach needy communities.

Skype is just one software program that’s changing the educational landscape, but as technology progresses, it won’t be the last. Skype has the ability to reach millions of students, which can revolutionize teaching and learning. College and university instructors and administrators should continue to explore the ways that Skype can make teaching and learning more effective.

About the author: Derrick Cruise is a professional writer living in the Indianapolis area. He specializes in technology and education articles. In his spare time, he contributes to stand-up comedy routines.

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It is difficult to imagine life without the Internet in its many means of access now such as desktop computers, laptop computers, netbooks, smartphones and notepads. A mere 21 years ago, most of us lived quite easily without its omnipresence in our daily lives.

Before the introduction of the Internet to the world at large, online education programs did exist. In the 1980s, the corporate world launched relatively prehistoric online education programs in the form of computer-based programs to ensure employees were vested with the most current information. This means of disseminating information was severely limited. With the advent of the Internet and its various improvements over the years, the corporate training process vastly improved and became efficient as employers could train employees in remote locations with fewer concerns of travel expenses, hiring job trainers in several locations, or risking employees at different locations suffering due to outdated information.

The revolutionary means of educating people online finally took hold in the educational community in 1994 with the distance learning organization known as CALCampus, which introduced the first entirely online curriculum. CAL started as Rhode Island’s Computer Assisted Learning Center for Adults, and was quick to recognize the value of the World Wide Web and integrated it into its repertoire, offering online courses for high school and secondary school course work. Soon, other colleges and universities took note and began to institute similar programs.

The early days of online education would probably be quite surprising to students introduced to online studies in the modern age. In addition to being text-heavy with few, if any, images or graphics, the ability to submit projects, instructor communication and other aspects of online learning have improved since those early days. Not only do modern online students benefit in vast improvements in technology, but they also have access to a wide array of helpful gadgets to make their online learning experience even easier.

External hard drives

Long gone are the days of clumsy floppy discs. Students can now easily save valuable online data, research, final assignments, audio-visual data, and much more in an external hard drive that can hold hundreds of gigabytes of data. These portable hard drives allow students to keep a class’s course work all in one secure location as a backup to their computer.

Soundproof headphones

Sometimes students can’t find a spot that is quiet enough to really focus and study for a critical examination. Whether it is roommates on a different examination schedule who choose to turn up the television’s volume too high, or neighbors who don’t attend school and don’t understand that the student is trying to study, soundproof headphones can be a solution to the frustration of distraction while trying to study. Students can seek out high quality, soundproof headphones to help them maintain focus.

Organizational apps for smartphones or tablets

A good calendar is essential to a student’s productivity. There are hundreds of apps on the market to help the modern online student stay on track and current on all deadlines. But organizational apps will help students keep track of, and highlight, their notes and plans for classes. CourseSmart is just one of the apps that can help students plot and stay their course.

Learning online has become more than just a supplement to teaching and learning—it’s quickly becoming the norm. Learning to embrace the newest technology, and how to use it teach and learn more effectively, has the potential to change the future of education.

About the author: Derrick Cruise is a professional writer living in the Indianapolis area. He specializes in technology and education articles. In his spare time, he contributes to stand-up comedy routines.

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