Thing 9 - Collaboration

Both Skype and Padlet can be powerful collaboration tools in the classroom. 

More specifically, I look forward to using Skype to provide a quick and easy, no muss no fuss, connection to the outside world. There is a super-librarian, who regularly blogs about her adventures with Skype in the Van Meter Library Voice. I would love to get to a point where Skype enables our students to chat with authors while only undertaking a minimal amount of fuss and muss. 

Additionally, I could see using Skype in order to connect in real time with subject area experts. An example that immediately comes to mind is Geneva's lesson wherein students are researching Asian religions. A quick Skype session with a facility could provide a depth and richness to student research.

Finally, I could see Skype being used to connect students with people in different career fields. Why wait until career day to talk to a firefighter? A quick Skype session during Fire Prevention Week would surely spark a bit of excitement on campus!

Padlet could very well work out its own collaboration with Skype! For example, prior to connecting, student could create questions for the Skype-guest and add them to a Padlet especially created for that purpose. 

If, for example, students were planning on connecting to interview a person for whatever purpose, collaborating on a Padlet would allow them to create a list of questions that are representative of the class as a whole. As they say, two heads are better than one, so twenty-two heads must be…well, you get the picture.

Finally, during an "author's chair" type situation, wherein other students are presenting, have a Padlet for each group or individual (your mileage may vary) would enable more than just the requisite one or two students (due to time constraints) to provide feedback. Using Padlet would increase the amount of feedback and enable shy students to find their voice.

In short, both Skype and Padlet are very powerful tools with which to engage students. The combination of the two is almost unstoppable! Pretty much like Superman. Except for that whole Kryptonite thing. (Apple doesn't use Kryptonite to build iPads, do they?)