Salisbury Academy students Skype teacher in Bolivia

Melissa Brown’s first-grade students used Salisbury Academy’s new technology and Skype to connect with their assistant teacher in Bolivia, South America.

Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet, accompanied by live video.

Kathey Fisher, who is visiting family in Bolivia, called in to the Salisbury Academy computer lab during the first-grade computer class. The students heard the sound of the phone ringing through a computer. Angela Graham, the computer teacher, answered with a click of a mouse, and live video of Fisher appeared on a Smart Board.

Fisher greeted the children by speaking Spanish, which Salisbury Academy students study each year from junior kindergarten through eighth grade, so the students answered their teacher in Spanish, as well.

“Buenos tardes amigos, como estan?” Fisher said to her students. “Bien, buenas tardes,” they replied.

Fisher showed the first-graders a doll dressed in traditional Bolivian costume and discussed modes of transportation, foods and the daily habits of the Bolivian culture which are different from those in the United States.

The children were amazed to learn that almost everyone in Bolivia takes a two-hour lunch break.

The teacher positioned her camera so the students could see the snow-covered Andes mountain range outside her window, and she explained that the weather is cold in South America right now, as they transition from winter to spring; the opposite of weather in North America because we are on opposite sides of the equator.

Fisher left a map in the first grade classroom to show the students where she is in relation to where they are.

Students enjoyed meeting and talking with their teacher’s husband, Allen Fisher, daughter, Kari Eller, and son-in-law, Justin Eller, through the Skype program as they shared this international experience.

Diane Fisher, Head of School, was pleased to see the integration of technology, geography, Spanish culture and language through this activity.

“This is a very concrete example of the way our curriculum is delivered at Salisbury Academy. Our teachers work together to create meaningful ways for the students to learn. They won’t soon forget this experience.”