Using Google Hangouts & Skype in Education

I had the pleasure for the first time using Google Hangouts as an educational tool. I had about a 15 minute conversation with Maddie. Our conference call was to share ideas about podcast lesson we collaborated on using wiki. This tool allowed use to have a face to face conversation about the lesson, some components of what we wanted to add and share an even deeper conversation about education and the changes that may be to come in the future.  

Prior to this opportunity my only experience with Skype or Hangouts was when I was a substitute teacher. As a sub, I witnessed first hand how educators use Skype in the classroom. While covering a small class of six students at the Hazleton Area Science Academy I had to log into the computer system and project the Skype on screen for students to view. On the other side was a Spanish teacher, teaching her class and the six students I had in the room both remotely and in person. As an educator, it was very interesting to experience this and made me think just how much education may be different twenty years from now.

As scary as it may seem, Skype and Google Hangouts could change education and how we do things tomorrow. This has become a heated debate but I believe we will begin to see less and less of the classroom and more elearning. Why, you ask? Simply put, technology is changing everything we do. Not to mention less students are becoming teachers because of all the changes that have come, particularly in Pennsylvania mostly from expectations and low pay.  I believe many of the classroom you see today will become more virtually based and students may just be waking up in their pj’s logging onto their computers to take classes just as we may be doing with this course. Having the ability to have the face to face view using Google Hangouts or Skype is a plus and still brings that personal touch of enthusiasm from the teacher and at the same time eliminated off topic unwanted conversations between students that distract others. Just like many other educational tools it has its own cons, with Skype or Google Hangouts the two main concerns I feel is technology issues that may be difficult to be patient with and safety concerns as it can be used inappropriately if not supervised regularly by parents.

As a teacher I feel that I benefit using Google Hangouts in a variety of different ways.Below is a list of opportunities that could help expand my classroom beyond the classroom walls.

• Use it as a way to work on projects, just like Maddie and I did. 
• Possibly invite a doctor or scientist to give a presentation.
•  Invite parents, community members, or businesses to observe student presentations allowing for a bigger audience. 
• Use it as a way to include students who may be unable to attend regular school due to illness, thus bridging the gap for full inclusion. 
• Possibly provide students with a virtual tour of a museum with some coordination with community leaders.
• Students can potentially interview experts on a specific topic being discussed in class.

Overall, I think that both of these tools are great components to use as a teacher. Pairing them up with a PLN can only help expand the learning network. As mentioned above, I feel there are a lot of opportunities to use Skype of Google Hangouts but also have fears of what may be a classroom in the future. What are some ways you feel you can benefit from these types of learning tools? How might they impact you and educator in the future?