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01.17.03      
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My first day at virtual school
 

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Steven Yankopoulos is an 18-year-old Children’s patient with cystic fibrosis who regularly spends weeks in the hospital for treatment. While an inpatient in December, he had the chance to use a Web camera to attend one of his high school classes. Below, in his own words, he describes the experience and what it could mean for patients in the future.

sn’t technology amazing? We always hear that as technology is coming, it’s improving. Guess what! It’s here, it has improved. We strive to make sure that we come out with new medicine to help people with heart transplants and various illnesses. But there is something that always seems to be overlooked by most people when it comes to technology: education. Technology can vastly improve the way we learn and teach. I had the pleasure of having the first taste of something that might be the way we all learn and work in the future.

I have cystic fibrosis, which is a lung illness that often needs to be treated at the hospital. Being stuck in the hospital for two to three weeks at a time and missing high school classes can seem insurmountable. I do as much schoolwork as I can during my stay, but it can be very strenuous.

So, the last time I was an inpatient I proposed an idea: Would it be possible to have a class while being in the hospital? Yes, it was! My high school has the luxury of having a Web camera, so I asked around the hospital saying that if you could connect and have a videoconference about medical issues, why not have a video conference so patients can attend some of their high school classes? So courtesy of my school and Children’s Hospital Boston, I was able to connect to Londonderry High School in New Hampshire and participate in my Law Studies class. The class went from 9:40 to 10:40 am and thanks to the Web camera, I was able to participate in a mock trial as the lawyer for the defense.

The amazing part about the whole thing was that, because of a dial-up connection, I could talk to my class and they could talk back to me through the TV. My role was different however, as it seemed I was the center of attention. Everyone seemed to look at me (no sleeping now) while I dazed into the TV seeing my classmates. What a great feeling to be able to continue a normal life.

The simple thought is this. How did you learn how to walk? Did your parents give you work sheets or did they instruct you on how to walk? The same idea works in school. Yes, work sheets help, but missing valuable class time hurts the process of learning.

This is where we need interaction and instructional time. This is where the Web camera comes into effect. The unfortunate part is that it does cost $200 dollars or more per connection, and I had to ask my school if there was any more put into this. Thankfully there was, and the idea became a reality, just like the future. If this was just a taste of what is to come, then I can't wait until I try the whole meal!

Related link:

Education World: Desktop Videoconferencing

 

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