Glenbrook students teach those at Wolf Swamp via videoconferencing

Date: 1/26/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW It's not uncommon to see older students helping younger students learn about a new concept. What was uncommon about the lesson on cyberbullying that the eighth graders at Glenbrook Middle School gave to the fifth graders at Wolf Swamp Elementary was the fact that the lesson was taught via Internet videoconferencing.

The videoconferencing, which took place Jan. 20 and 21, used Skype software to connect the two groups of students. Skype allows users to make calls, with both audio and visual elements, from a computer to other people on Skype and to landlines and cell phones around the world.

"This is the first time we've done anything like this," Anne Marie Salvon, instruction technology teacher at Glenbrook, said. "I think it was a success."

The videoconference was only part of the project her middle schoolers completed, however.

The students started their project by posting a survey online, hosted by Survey Monkey, in which they asked the fifth graders about cyberbullying. Cyberbullying involves the use of information and communication technologies, like the Internet and cell phones, to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others. Sixty-two fifth graders took the survey.

Hannah Slitzsky, an eighth grader, said the group put together the survey on their own.

"We were surprised that a lot of fifth graders had cell phones," Lena Topitzer said.

The videoconference taught the older students about the effectiveness of this way of teaching as well.

"I didn't think it would be fun at first, but it got really interesting," Jack Dombek said.

"When you see someone in person [like through Skype] you can relate to them more," Topitzer added.

In addition to teaching over the Web, the students in Salvon's classes have also created a "Wikispace" to share what they're learning with the public.

"This is the first year were using a Wikispace," Salvon said. "I love it."

To see the eighth grade class at Glenbrook's Wikispace, log onto http://teacherweb.com/MA/Glenbrook/Salvon/. This site also hosts spaces for the sixth and seventh grade classes.