Skype is pretty unreal. My biggest problem was not knowing where to look! I always wanted to look at the screen but then my eyes were obviously not looking at the person I was talking to. But if you look at the camera you can't tell if you are really looking straight into the picture, because you are looking at the camera... Very unsettling. Other than that, skype was effective and pretty awesome. You get to see the faces and emotions of those you are communicating with. I think this can help keep your mind from wandering too much (at least it helps me). Plus, they can show you things instead of having to just try and describe it sufficiently, which can be difficult.
There are definite advantages to video communication of this manner. As an educator, you could more effectively present information to students who miss valuable instruction in the classroom. Or, you could have a sort of live-action video podcast thing going on. In conclusion, television telephones are a great invention.
I totally agree with you! skype is crazy, and I never know where to look... it can be kinda awkward! :)
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of videos, Ilarene and I might use your 276 lesson idea for our video projects for this class... is that ok?
haha we are gonna record a little play about bacteria... and then each use it in our own video instruction thing... haha if you wanna join you are more than welcome, since it was your idea originally!
Yeah... video chatting can be a little unsettling. I feel more comfortable with it if it's planned and I know where to look. But I don't know if I'd want it to replace the cell-phone as a primary distance-communication.
ReplyDeleteI kind of like the privacy that phones afford... I mean, you can keep doing whatever you were doing without fear of offending whoever has called (I like to cook or clean or draw or do something else if I have to talk for a while - but video chats require your full participation).
There are advantages to both, but I'll probably use video chat only sparingly.