As mentioned in a previous post, Distance Learning once meant big, huge pieces of equipment, service providers, money, and were often an intimidating experience to say the least.  Technologies that are not necessarily new are now finding their way into education to make distance learning experiences available to all learners. 

By securing a few basic tools, you can begin extending learning beyond the walls of the classroom. 

  1. Install Skype, a free download, and establish a few contacts;
    ALL Skype to Skype connections are free!
  2. Purchase a webcam; prices begin as low as $10, and can be obtains at any local office supply store or many of the educational vendors.
  3. Purchase a microphone, if not integrated with the webcam.

Once you have all of the basic tools in place you are ready to being connecting with others to bring learning experiences into the classroom.  You can connect with other classrooms globally, you can arrange to visit with authors and illustrators, you can connect with another country to engage students in an authentic language-learning experience, you can explore careers, and a whole host of other such experiences.

When you are ready to move beyond one-to-one connections you can explore other free applications such as MeBeam, ooVoo, or Dimdim where you can communicate and collaborate in online environments with multiple users.  Again, these are all FREE tools to engage students in learning experiences beyond the classroom.

If you would like to join a Ning group to establish contacts and collaborate with other educators visit: http://beyondtheclassroom.ning.com/.