Open Source

http://www.bigbluebutton.org/ This open source allows for students, that are not physically in the classroom, to participate from where ever they are. It is like an enhanced Skype. The source has the capability of listening, to raise the hand for questions, desktop sharing, etc. I really like this source because it focuses on distant learning and the experience I had of distant learning when in high school. I had my daughter in senior year of high school and was on home for 8 weeks when Nube was born. To keep up with school, the district provided me with a tutor that would come once a week to my house and give me the work I missed in school. There were quite a few things wrong with this-but let's not get into that. The point is, I think I would have been better off had the Big Blue Button been available to me. I could have been part of my classes and participate without being physically there. As a student teacher I hear many reasons of an extended absence of a student and this could be a good option for families. If students are going to have extended absent periods than school districts could simply have a staff member set up this alternative for teachers and students.