Learning with Technology Module 3 Post

Relevant ISTE Standard: ISTE 3: Research and Information Fluency: Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.

Triggering Event for this module: What are ways in which students can apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information?


My related question: How can I work a Skype in the Classroom project into a history curriculum? How do you accommodate time differences, with such a project?

In a little over a month, my students will begin a research project that is done entirely using digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. I would like to encourage my students to use multiple mediums, including Skype, to access information. This is my attempt at evaluating an selecting digital tools based on their appropriateness to this specific task: researching for a project.

In my search for ways to integrate Skype into a research project, I found an actual lesson plan for using Skype for a history project. In the lesson plan, the teacher has students talk to a professional archaeologist in Africa, in order to learn about archaeology, the archaeologist him/herself, and the work he/she is currently doing.

I think this could be expanded to include doing research for a project by conducting interviews over Skype. I once, during my observations of other history teachers, saw a teacher run an oral history project that encouraged his students to interview people they knew who had lived through major historical events. Some of these students used skype to conduct interviews with grandparents or family friends about experiences in everything from major protests to World War II. This is closer to what I imagine for my students' use of Skype.

I envision at least some of my students being able to get first-hand accounts of the topics they choose for their research projects, and being able to use school computers (few of them have home computers) to Skype with people they might interview about their experiences.

However.

I also have to recognize that the likelihood of this is small. I do not believe Skype is installed on the school computers, and I foresee other issues as well - my students do not know how to conduct an interview, and will need significant guidance in their attempts. I also have to prioritize that they learn to use databases, rather than Skype, for their learning, since database inquiries are a more transferrable skill that they will use later in other future classes.