Skype Connectivity in the classroom

Connecting the previous passouts to the present batch students...

It has been a long time since I wanted to use the skype in my classrooms and really turn the class into a flatclassroom. So that learning was not just limited and confined to the walls of the room. I believe by now that a lot can be achieved by connectivity and so the best way to start off the same was to connect my previous batch students to the present ones. The interactive discussion would benefit both, I felt. The passed out batch could feel what it is like to be mentors and develop leadership skills. The present ones definitely would gain motivation from the previous ones.

Amit connected through skype...

As I had moved from Choithram International , my previous batch of physics students were not known to the present ones. This year in the exam of 2012, Amit Singhi had topped the school results and secured a 43, and thus is on his way to the London School of Economics. Second to him was Hemant Pankaj Pandit who is already in UK to join the University of Warwick. I am glad that they both accepted my invitation to connect and came LIVE into my classroom. 

Amit shared his experiences of being an IB student and how he had actually prepared for the exams, his TOK essay and EE. He emphasized on the following:

1. Reading the textbooks thoroughly, even between the lines
2. Referring to lot of web resources especially MIT lectures and other videos
3. Reading the newspapers and get used to the terninology used currently in BM and ECO
4. Writing a good personal statement 
5. Getting good letter of recommendation for the subject courses applied
6. Targeting a high predicted grade from teachers and working diligently towards it

Amit's score of 43 and his inspiring story really motivated the students .

Hemant engaged in a heart to heart chat with the students..

With Hemant next on board , joining us from UK , the interaction was a totally different kind. He highlighted that keeping a balance between having a good life and getting good scores in IB was possible and this gave our present students some respite. He said that if they are really looking forward to partying harder they should concentrate on their studies now, seriously getting good scores . The serious problem that he felt being an IB student was being motivated all the time inspite of all the pressure. The discussions were then open to clear individual queries.

I felt that the students could connect to Amit and Hemant as they had just passed through the stage that they were passing through.So what have the students gained from this interaction? Are you breaking barriers and connecting to the world. Soon will blog more about skype connectivity for my subject.....