Technology in the class room

"Chatting it up online", by Pamela Livingston, is an intriguing article! The article spot lights one of the many ways computer technology reaches beyond the four walls of the classroom and gives students a unique chance to learn. As technology changes, so does the way one teaches. In her article, Livingston tells about the benefits of using technology to teach her 3rd grade class. Livingston used a technique called "Author chat". Author Chat is an exciting way of learning through a chat room on the internet. The idea of Author Chat is to give students the opportunity to ask questions directly to the author of a book via a chat room. In the past, Livingston's class wrote letters to an author and would have to wait weeks or months for a response. With the creative invention of Author Chat, and the use of technology, response to students questions are instantaneous. After asking direct questions to the author, students feel more connected to the book, and obtain greater understanding of the material read.
The ideas presented in "Chatting it up online" are exiting! The idea of being able to ask questions directly to the author of a book one has read is a great idea. One may take this idea and apply it to a science class. After teaching a class about fossils or animals, The students can link to a live video chat with a zoo keeper. A camera placed in front of the class will give the zoo keeper a chance to see the students, and vice versa. Speaking to a zoo keeper through online video gives students a fun interactive way of learning. Before the use of this technology, a class would have to take a field trip if they wanted to learn from a zoo keeper. The use of this technology brings many fun possible ways of learning into a classroom.
Standards: NETS 4. ISTE vol. 27 no.1 Sep 1999