Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Hearts on fire: How educators are using Skype to ignite idealism in their students

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

I always worry about claims that something fires up students' idealism, because propaganda also does that, and it has nothing to do with learning. The jury is still out on this initiative. It describes a partnership between a group called Hearts on Fire and Skype in the Classroom where "teachers now have access to inspiring speakers and innovative content online." Microsoft's take is that it is Skype performing a valuable service. ""Skype in the Classroom makes it easier for me to connect my students with people in the real world," Leslie says. "It's not always feasible to put them on a bus and take them somewhere. Experts may not be local. This makes the connection so much simpler and more efficient." I'd feel more comfortable if the content of these inspiring messages were public, as in a Google Hangout, so we can see what's being pumped into classrooms.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Dec 25, 2024 08:03 a.m.

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