{"id":776,"date":"2019-07-17T09:00:56","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T16:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/education\/blog\/2019\/07\/17\/using-skype-in-the-classroom-to-empower-students-to-protect-the-marine-environment\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T09:00:56","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T16:00:56","slug":"using-skype-in-the-classroom-to-empower-students-to-protect-the-marine-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/education\/blog\/2019\/07\/using-skype-in-the-classroom-to-empower-students-to-protect-the-marine-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Skype in the Classroom to empower students to protect the marine environment"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cHi! Wondering if you would like to Skype with my kids and talk about plastic waste.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s incredible how impactful a simple 16-word text can be, how a simple action can lead to greater achievements. This message from Oluwakemi Olurinola, a Nigerian teacher, back in August 2017, was the beginning of my Skype lesson<\/a><\/strong>, The Skype Plastic Cleanup Brigade. Nearly two years on, the idea behind it remains the same: little actions DO matter! By educating young people about the hazards of plastic pollution, we\u2019re inspiring them to take action and join the fight against this global threat.<\/p>\n

From Australia to Canada, The Skype Plastic Cleanup Brigade has been in almost 200 classrooms around the world. I\u2019m so grateful for the students of every age and inspiring educators worldwide that I\u2019ve met through sharing this lesson on Skype. Read on to learn how we\u2019re building a network to find solutions for the plastics crisis.<\/p>\n

The start of my journey<\/h3>\n

I believe we can all do something to help. It doesn\u2019t matter how little our actions may be, they will help somehow. After all, the 8 million tons of plastic ending up in the ocean every year grows just one bottle, bag or cup at a time. So, as I always say in my lesson, we need to look inside ourselves, find our own strengths and abilities, and join the fight!<\/p>\n

I live in a seaside town and have always been interested in the environment and animal well-being. And while I\u2019m a creative and sociable person, I lack the time or the resources to plan or participate in cleanup campaigns on a regular basis. Instead, I decided to take advantage of my passion for technology and foreign languages and create this Skype in the Classroom lesson<\/a><\/strong> to help mobilize students, parents and teachers around the world.<\/p>\n

Making a difference with Skype in the Classroom<\/h3>\n

\u201cWe can get anywhere in a blink of an eye with Skype,\u201d one of my students once told me.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s so true! I\u2019ve come to realize just how powerful the Skype in the Classroom community and Skype can be. My students and I have been inspired by so many amazing experts, incredible virtual field trips and many Mystery Skype sessions.<\/p>\n

After having been on the receiving end of various Skype calls from these passionate people, I now find myself giving my own Skype lesson on matters I truly care about.<\/p>\n

Concerned educators from all over the world are turning to me to deliver my Skype Plastic Cleanup Brigade lesson<\/a><\/strong> to their classes. Despite being a full-time teacher myself, I take such requests very seriously and give these teachers and their classes my full support and attention. When teachers register their interest, I send them my lesson plan, including all the links and ideas they will need and answer any questions they may have.<\/p>\n

After the lesson, I ask them to share their work and feedback. And I couldn\u2019t be happier with the response I\u2019m getting! Some of the teachers I\u2019ve connected with are now part of the Litter@sea<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>team, a group of \u2018warriors\u2019 fighting the plastic pollution threat worldwide.<\/p>\n

Here are just a few examples of the outstanding work these teachers and their students are doing out there:<\/p>\n