The Buffalo Bill Center of the West reaches out to classrooms world-wide through Skype in the classroom [now Virtual Field Trips]. Students across the United States, Canada, and around the world have participated. The following is a question and answer session with Megan Smith, School Services Coordinator, and George Miller, Outreach Educator.
George: Megan, what was the inspiration for the Skype in the classroom project at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West?
Megan: As you know, we already offer robust on-site school programs. These programs have been successful for many years. Yet, for the past several years, I have wanted to reach beyond the walls of the Center and provide engaging opportunities for students around the world. The idea of reaching students who cannot visit the Center fits in perfectly with our Strategic Plan to have a greater presence via the internet and other media vehicles. My idea to offer virtual participatory field trips started back in March 2012, when I worked with a Smithsonian colleague to reach teachers in North Dakota. I spent a lot of time researching and evaluating what was already out there. One day, I literally stumbled on Skype in the classroom. Let’s just say the rest is history! Now, we have a great partnership with Skype in the classroom.
George: How many classrooms did you virtually visit in 2013?
Megan: Well, we launched our first lesson about mountain men in May and then another lesson in September focusing on Plains Indian cultures and buffalo. These lessons just took off—especially our lesson about Plains Indians. We visited close to 70 classrooms via Skype in the classroom between May and December of last year. This breaks down to 50 schools and 1,600 students in the continental U.S., Hawaii, Canada, France, and China. We are so excited that we are already on track to impact even more students in 2014. In fact, we are actually booked through the end of February!
George: How does the Buffalo Bill Center of the West create lessons with wide appeal to students?
Megan: As we develop new lessons, we have several important things to keep in mind. First, we have to ask the question: how can we grab teachers’ attention with a lesson that they think their students will enjoy, and, just as importantly, a lesson that will help them meet their growing demands? What do I mean by growing demands? Teachers are faced with the challenge of meeting state and national standards, as well as the newly adopted Common Core Standards. The lessons we develop should creatively help teachers to enrich their students’ learning experiences, while meeting these standards. A second important consideration is, of course, the students. The lessons we develop must always be participatory and fun! We engage students with stories and objects that we show them up close. We also encourage students to share their thoughts, experiences, and knowledge.
George: What has been the most unexpected development with Skype in the classroom?
Megan: Frankly, when we first started Skype in the classroom we saw the potential to reach a new audience in a new and exciting way. We made this initiative one of our biggest priorities. We had a feeling it would be successful, but we have been thrilled with the overwhelming response from teachers and students. Since September, we consistently have been booked two months out. So, the numbers were a wonderful and significant development.
However, I need to also speak from my heart, and convey how much this program has been satisfying as an educator. I have been surprised by how easy it is to communicate with students. Skype in the classroom allows for conversations that would otherwise not happen. The enthusiasm of students and teachers has generated questions and insights that have inspired me to continue this program and strive to offer the best.
George: How do you expect the program to change in 2014?
Megan: Already, in 2014, we have hired an outreach educator, who has taken over the scheduling and delivers all of our lessons with other members of our education team. This alone has been a significant change to allow time for the development of new lessons. This year, we plan to launch two more lessons – one this spring and one later this fall. We also really want to push the envelope with these lessons by traveling throughout our Center and even outside our walls. We live in an amazing place and have technology at our fingertips that will allow us to help immerse students into the wonders of the art, history, culture, and natural sciences of the West!
Learn more about our school services by visiting our website at: https://centerofthewest.org/learn/school-programs/
Visit our Virtual Field Trips page at: https://centerofthewest.org/school-programs/virtual-field-trips/
