Skype Learning Lab Puts Global Perspective on U.S. History

From http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/10/26/skype-learning-lab-puts-global-perspective-on-u.s.-history.aspx

Skype Learning Lab Puts Global Perspective on U.S. History
A private school in Miami uses is using free technology to bridge geographical gaps between faculty and students.
By Bridget McCrea
October 26, 2011

Terrorist attacks and violent protests take place regularly in Jerusalem these days, yet Americans generally only hear about the events on TV or the Internet. Rarely do they experience them firsthand. Thanks to a Web-based videoconferencing setup for a distance learning class, a group of Advanced Placement U.S. History students from the Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School in Miami got pretty close to the action recently.

The events unfurled one morning as Rhea Schwartzberg was getting ready to teach her U.S. History class using a Skype connection and the school's "global learning lab." Suddenly, a Jerusalem suburb not far from Schwartzberg's home, was rocked by a terrorist attack.

The unfortunate event opened the doors for an international lesson in Israeli politics and the country's emergency response mechanisms for the AP students. "They put the history discussion aside for the day, and dedicated the classroom time to answering questions about the attack, and its short- and long-term repercussions," said Weisserman.

Read the full article at http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/10/26/skype-learning-lab-puts-global-perspective-on-u.s.-history.aspx