Second grade classes from Grand Avenue and Audubon Park Elementary Schools recently met up with their “Skype buddies” to watch A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas at the Orlando Repertory Theatre. The students have been communicating with each other about books and reading since the beginning of the semester. The idea for both classes to Skype together and the field trip was arranged by Hope Bitzer, a Rollins College senior education major, who interned in both second grade classes her junior and senior year and arranged for the students to be “Skype buddies.”
During the show, each student sat with their respective Skype partner. Bitzer also secured a scholarship that paid for the Grand Avenue class to attend the show. Faculty members from Rollins education department, the Kappa Delta Pi (the education honor society) and Bitzer’s parents contributed to pay for the bus for the Grand Avenue class as well.
“This was a great experience and it was so much fun to see the kids finally meet in person,” said Bitzer. “I’m a big proponent in using technology in the classroom to enhance the curriculum. When I graduate, I hope to work in an elementary school where I can make a difference in students’ lives beyond education.”
