Skype a learning tool for Vesper students
VESPER – Vesper Community Academy fourth-grade students were running back and forth, chattering and Skyping on March 26 — all with the encouragement of their teacher, Becky Sturdy.
While Sturdy, a teacher with 14 years' experience — seven at Vesper — sometimes had to remind the students to quiet down a bit, the smile on her face evidenced her pride.
"The fact that now they can guess the state in four minutes is pretty good," she said later. "That's a record."
Sturdy was referring to the student's latest game of "Mystery Skype." Two schools connect to each other via the online video and chat software, asking questions to try and determine where the other is located. While fun, the teacher-created game has a well-rounded educational angle, that includes geography, cooperation and communication.
With 11 sessions completed, Sturdy admits it took a bit of courage for her to start the project this year.
"It was a little scary, because you're completely putting learning in the hands of the kids — and I was not completely ready for that," Sturdy said. "I just decided this year I would give it a try."
Sturdy connects with other teachers through Twitter, and sets up the sessions about a month ahead of time. None of the students have any clue where the other school is located. The 30-minute session includes geography, but so much more.
The first sessions might have been a bit shaky, but now, the 19 students present a confident and prepared air as they fill the roles of greeters, question keepers, mappers, logical reasoners, runners, tweeters, Googlers, photographer, distance discovers and Wisconsin experts.
Sawyer Holberg 9, Wisconsin Rapids, had the dual role of Wisconsin expert and logical reasoner.
"I'm responsible for telling them facts about our state," she said. "I was also a logical reasoner; I had to come up with questions for (her peers) to ask the other people."
During the Skype session with the mystery school, the students on each side take turns asking questions to determine where the respective students are located: "Are you east of the Mississippi?" "Are you one of the original 13 colonies?" "Do you border Ohio?"
"It also teaches them critical thinking, because the kids have to come up with the questions to ask the other classroom, and they are basically trying to narrow down where the other classroom is located in the United States," Sturdy said. "It's taught them that there are some questions that are good questions and some questions that are not as helpful."
Max Wetenkamp, 10, Nekoosa, was a mapper. He had to help determine what states might or might not be correct.
Within 4 minutes, working as a team, the VCA fourth-graders called it: "Kentucky." The eighth-grade students from Walton-Verona Middle School, Walton, K., were impressed with the showing of the younger class.
"The kids have gotten faster and faster," Sturdy said.
Following the win, students talked about their weather, favorite teams, state symbols — and even accents, which brought a round of laughter.
Sturdy helps guide the students and keeps them on track, but also allows them to take independent roles, letting them do the work.
"It's goes along with our philosophy (at Vesper) of project-based learning, where we're giving kids an opportunity to answer questions for themselves and research and learn on their own, independently," Sturdy said.
Those skills, she said, will help them as they grow into adults.
And it's fun.
"I like the excitement and feel of getting to find where people are in the state — and hearing their accents," Max said.
Deb Cleworth can be reached at 715-423-7200, ext. 6730 or email@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @DebCleworth.