I came across this article about a great learning solution for supervising teachers advising student teachers in the field.
From eSchool News:
Using a web camera connected to a laptop computer, and a Skype video conferencing account, the (University of Southern Mississippi) assistant professors can observe and evaluate 18 online elementary education students who are working in the field.
“We started the program because we saw a need,” said Assistant Professor Kelley Samblis. “There were a lot of teacher’s assistants [who] were not able to come to school, come to face-to-face classes. So we thought, let’s offer an online venue for them.”
This next part is probably the most revolutionary technique I have heard about in a while. If you have seen the show “Howie Do It”, this takes it into the classroom:
The assistant professors can communicate with their students through a Bluetooth earpiece and give them instant feedback. “If there’s a problem, we can just whisper in their ear with the headpiece when we’re talking on the microphone,” said Assistant Professor Holly Hardin Hulbert. “But if not, we just let it alone and we talk to them as soon as it’s over.”
You literally have an expert inside your head.
I applaud the University of Southern Mississippi for thinking outside the box.
