Activity 3C

C & I 335

Summer, 1998

Shellie Brunsman

Pleasant Hill Elementary School

Springfield, Illinois

Lesson : CU-SeeMe Program --Seeing Our Pen Pals

Prior to this lesson the students have been corresponding with their 2nd grade pen pals in Colorado using traditional letters and e-mail. The students are familiar with the L-TV hookup and using book marked sites on the Internet. The teacher in Colorado is also using CU-SeeMe and we have designated a certain time to introduce this technology to our respective classrooms. (This contact was made thru e-mail)

Objectives:

  • To learn how to use the QuickCam for video conferencing.
  • To utilize an emerging technology in the classroom.
  • To incorporate new technology into pen pal/language arts lesson.

Materials:

  • Classroom Computer with CU-SeeMe program loaded and ready.
  • QuickCam
  • TV/VCR & L-TV box
  • paper for pen pal letter

Length of lesson: 1 hour has been set aside for this lesson

Evaluation: Students will write to their pen pals after this lesson. This letter will include their feelings on the "face to face" meeting and if they liked using this mode. (Letter will consist of 4 sentences minimum.) This assignment was discussed before this lesson began. A letter will also go home letting their parents know about the CU-SeeMe conference. We will invite parents to come to next week's conference. Teacher will read over their letters to evaluate this new lesson.

Lesson Plan:

  • Introduction to the new setup in the room. Explain that the QuickCam will allow us to see special friends and that today we will get to meet our pen pals.
  • Explain that the CU-SeeMe program on our computer allows us to view another classroom with the same equipment. Since we have some special pen pals the teachers have decided to use the QuickCams to see each other's classrooms.
  • The TV will also display the picture so that everyone in the class (25 students) can see what is happening.
  • After the teacher's have made introductions, each student will meet their pen pal. They will take 1 or 2 minutes to say hello and then go to the next student. After they have taken their turn they may start their writing assignment. The TV will be on so they may view the classroom while they work on their letter.
  • Teachers will discuss a time to meet again in the week.
  • A special video conferencing project will be our goal for next week. Since sharing is the theme for next week each student will get to pick one item, picture or book to share with their pen pal in next week's video conference.

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