Spotlight on Innovation: PHS Faculty and Students on Skype
PHS teachers use Skype in ways you might not have imagined… until you ask.
Katie Page’s and Leigh Sapp’s students know they do not have to be entirely absent when they can’t be at school. They can Skype in, even after having wisdom teeth removed. Katie says, “At the end of last year my student, Sean, had chipmunk cheeks and was drooling but participated in a lab at the table with his group! Kids think it is awesome when it happens.”
Tom Froats’ Oceanography students Skyped with a surgeon from the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida. Without filling out a single field trip form, they toured the entire facility and had their questions answered by the medical team.
John Camardella’s Religion students regularly Skype with people in foreign countries. They also Skype with Dr. Steve Won from the CERN institute. Dr. Won’s research focuses on the Higgs-Boson and Theoretical Particle Physics. Below is a recent conversation he had with PHS Religion students.
During a unit on population growth, Kurt Trenkle’s AP Environmental Science students Skyped with a friend of Kurt’s who is now working in Tanzania training women to teach health to people in local villages. Students also had the chance to speak with a native Tanzanian about her daily life in Tanzania. Kurt loved the way students were able to see and hear differences in how another culture deals with marriage and fertility. Watch the video below to experience a moment from their recent Skyping experience.
Jay KypJohnson’s filmmaking club recently Skyped with a sound technician working in California. The sound technician discussed how he got into the business, how he supports himself, and how he built his sound library. He also told the film club members about the various film projects he has worked on. Jay says the experience was extremely informative — a lesson in life as well as in the film industry.
Lynn Scolaro’s Italian students Skype with a professor in Italy. They discuss current events and issues related to the Italian government.
Spanish teacher Leigh Sapp also uses Skype to connect students with people around the world. When her students were studying Argentina and the Dirty War, they Skyped with an Argentinian who lived through the experience herself; she answered the students’ questions as part of their research.
Last December, PHS’s head librarian, Christie Sylvester, and English teacher Karen Kruse organized a Skype session with author Mike Mullins. They reserved lab after school and opened the session to any interested students. Christie purchased copies of the first book in the disaster trilogy, Ashfall, to give to students prior to attending in order for them prepare questions about the book.
The students were enthralled with Mike’s presentation. He spoke from his office, allowing students to see where he worked. They even met his wife and cat. Mike shared the science and his research behind the book series. He also talked about what it takes to be a writer, describing his own unusual career path.
Christie used a Skype camera and tripod that staff can borrow for a few days if they are hosting a Skype session. Her tripod made it easier for Mike to view the entire classroom.
If you are a PHS faculty member interested in setting up a Skype experience for the first time, feel free to ask for support. Matt Hamilton and Christie Sylvester have Skype cameras that can make the experience even easier to set up and record, and Rich Gillman can provide a tripod for better viewing. Your ITF and DTCs will be happy to help!
