This is a problem that my friend Brooke has been trying to figure out for the last few weeks. We together came up with a great alternative when we noticed that she and a guy in our group both had webcams on their computers. She discussed her idea with our teacher and set it all up. On Thursday morning (about one am Friday morning in China), Brooke took the Ed Psych test with the rest of our class over gmail video chat.
She was able to do everything that we could do, although she didn't do the dance Dr. Cox taught us! She saw the experiments that we did, participated in class discussions, and took her group exam just as she would if she had been there. I even still got to hear her funny comments throughout the remainder of class using my earphones. Brooke has arranged to "attend" another class this week as well. I have decided that gmail video chat is about the coolest thing since regular gmail chat!
Experiencing how this worked out so well I can definitely see how video conferencing can be used in the classroom. Instead of having kids trying to get the notes ahead of time, or scrambling to get them after, they can get them at the same time as everyone else. It could be used when kids go out of town, or even if they are sick. However, I can also imagine kids taking advantage of this. I would set it up so kids could only use it once or twice, unless previously arranged. This way kids wouldn't use video chat so they could sleep in later or just miss class.
This weeks video, How Not to Use PowerPoint, was pretty entertaining. I think everyone who has ever been to school has seen a PowerPoint that hit some if not all of the no-no's. I am sure everyone has made one using at least one of these mistakes. I thought the guy was funny and that it was good information. I am thinking of forwarding the video to a couple of teachers I know!
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