[opendtv] Connected classrooms
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2013 22:04:21 +0000
Yesterday I was listening to a program on NPR about distance learning from
connected classrooms, in high schools primarily. The guest was explaining how
some schools these days have a classroom with projector and distributed mikes,
to accommodate two-way Skype sessions. Allowing a the class to be taught by,
say, a university professor who is an expert on some particular topic. Two-way,
of course, so the kids can ask questions.
The host of the show kept talking about the huge expense of such setups. The
guest was trying to explain that the expense isn't so huge, and that btw the
kids use that same technology when they go home at night. He said that the main
problem was that the adults don't understand the technology.
For example, he said, all it would take is for the teacher to connect his/her
smartphone to a projector, and run the Skype session from the smartphone (not
ideal, but he was trying to make a point). I don't think the host ever quite
got it. If there's an expense involved, it would mainly be to set up the
microphones in a way that the kids could get their questions heard clearly. A
one-time expense, in other words. And of course the broadband link, but come
now.
Why do I bother with this? Because it sounded to me SO MUCH like the supposed
problems of setting up Internet TV. Amazing how something so simple can be
blown out of proportion. And then people wonder why government can't get its
act together. Consider that the government consists of those same adults, who
think Skype classrooms are a huge expense.
Bert
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