Discussion and Conclusions

By using the Internet through blogging and skype sessions, the possibilities and opportunities to use this technology in the classroom is very prominent. Although this technology is great, there are several problems that come up. Some of the difficulties are the technology limitations. A school that does not contain up to date computers, computer software, projectors, and projection screens may have a difficult time using such a great teaching tool within their classrooms.

Some other difficulties arise such as IT policies. Some policies of areas do not allow for students to be placed on a live internet web system for fear that a third party may be able to watch what they are doing. Also, if there is not a strong internet signal, the quality of the video may be blurred or have timing off between the mouth and the words being said.

Since the introduction of video Skype in 2006, there has been little communication done between classrooms and professionals. The Skype session that was performed with Juniper Elementary School was a great experience for everyone but it was not the first time that young children have been exposed to the program within their classroom. Skype sessions have been performed within elementary classrooms as well as high school classrooms to have a live conversation with authors of books that the classes have read and learned to love. These programs have been amazing because the students could ask the authors any questions that they may have not only about the book, but also about their writing styles, what it is like to write a book, and any other question that can come to their young minds.

Now this kind of communication is endless. Instead of paying all of the money to have professionals make the trip to a class or school to allow for question and answer, we can simply have an organized skype session where the students can ask any question that they want. This type of communication has no boundaries and can be performed wherever there is an Internet access. With the increase of wireless Internet, such sessions will soon be able to be performed all over the world.

As a result of the Skype session done with Juniper Elementary School and St. Croix, the students were able to get a visual perspective that they never would have been able to experience without this program. The students were incredibly interested and asked very informative questions that could be answered by one of their own classmates. The students gained a better understanding of the effects that the introduction of mongoose have on the island of St. Croix. They were able to get a live video image of a mongoose and see how scientists sedate, study, and mark the animal.

Skype is a great tool to use as a communication tool to use because not only is the software free, but it allows people to visualize each other while they speak. No matter if the person is across the street or across the world in a different country, Skype is a great way to share information and communicate. Technology is the new "fad" that is found within most classrooms. It is very unlikely that you will find a recent teacher not using some sort of technology whether it is a computer or different media devices. Many classrooms use the Internet as well and this allows the opportunity for interactive exchange and collaborations between students across the world from one another. Pen pals are not used as prominent now as email friends because the technology is faster and more efficient than the U.S postal service.

Through the use of Skype (and other conferencing technologies), students can participate in real-time conversations with people, including research scientists, around the world. This is revolutionizing the classroom. These technologies allow communication that could not have happened just a few years ago.