Keeping Class on Track

Using Showbie and Skype to manage missed class time

It happens to all of us - sometimes we can’t be in class. Maybe we’re ill, maybe it’s our children, maybe we’re at a conference or meeting. Luci has figured a way to keep students on track in those situations. She uses Showbie to post assignments when she’s gone. With Showbie, assignments can be uploaded from home and guest teachers need only to ask students to login and begin. Assignments can include documents, links, and images. Directions can be in written or oral form (or both). Assignments can be completed directly in Showbie or uploaded from Google Drive or the camera (video). There are so many possibilities! 

Most of the time, however, it’s our students that are missing class. Linda has managed this by having students Skype into class. She had an injured student Skype in from home to watch presentations and answer follow-up questions - she didn’t miss a beat! She has also has an ill student Skype in during group work. When the students break out into groups, this student participates via Skype on the iPad. How awesome is that?! 

Who knows? Maybe one day, with the use of practices such as these, we won’t have to worry about snow days and losing instructional minutes.