Better question: how hasn't it?
I guess I never thought of blogging as a profound technology that can create endless learning possibilities but that is exactly what it is. I always think of how inspiring it is when a teacher actually has the time to sit down with a colleague and bounce ideas off one another- its great when it happens, but these times seem to occur so rarely because time is usually not on our side.
Blogging doesn't require a mutual time slot for this. You can post or search through blogs on your own time, you can find ideas you like and ask questions about implementation or post a question to your blog followers for ideas and await their responses. Endless possibilities.
For example, in my searches this morning I found this wonderful post: What's the Hype with Skype? from Krissy Venosdale's blog that shared ways to use Skype as an educational tool. I have only used Skype once in the school setting. When I used Skype it was when I was filling in for a co-worker on maternity leave and we Skyped with her each Friday so that she could maintain a connection with the class. The students would present to her what we had been learning but I never thought of the possibilities beyond this and wow are these ideas something to think about.
Has anyone used Skype in their teaching? If so, what did you use it for?
Shannon, I have used Skype often in teaching. Last spring, EDUC 584 students had an hour-and-a-half Skype with the author of the book we used, Empowering Students with Technology by Alan November. Last fall, one of my graduate courses did a Skype with 3rd graders in Washington state and high school students in Arizona. We did these as Mystery Skypes. We also Skyped with Krissy V, whom I believe you mentioned in an earlier post. I have done lots of Skypes and hope we can do one in our course this semester.
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