Reflection on Mystery Hangout Activity

The Mystery Hangout activity is a fun, new way to experience Skype-style technology in the classroom. Last week my EDU 531 Technology class at National Hispanic University in San Jose participated in a friendly competition with a similar class in Southern California. We played a game in which we each tried to be the first to figure out each other's location, simply by asking each other "yes or no" questions. Each member of the class participated by taking on a different role, such as greeters, questioners, navigators, etc. I enjoyed being a greeter and asking questions to the other side. Through our questions, we eventually discovered the location of the other class, but they were much faster than us--they only needed a few questions to find us on the map. From the comfort of our own classroom, we had the chance to interact with other students like ourselves, whom we may never have otherwise met. This activity has great learning potential for students everywhere. By using this technology, students have the opportunity to communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world. This is like taking a field trip without the expense!

For a teacher, another advantage of this activity is that students can learn to use the technology in a controlled setting. For students who may not have much experience with technology, guidance from the teacher removes the fear factor, so they "can't mess it up." Another advantage is that students can get to know other students, share ideas, and have interesting discussions with people with whom they would not otherwise have the chance to interact. For students who live in remote or underprivileged areas, this opens the door to many new and interesting learning opportunities and experiences.

Of course, the disadvantage of a technology-based activity such as this is that the teacher must become well-versed in how it works, and he or she is at the mercy of the technology working properly. Additionally, both schools participating obviously must have up-to-date technological capabilities. The teacher has to be careful to not over-promise how much fun and valuable the activity will be until he or she is sure that it will work. Otherwise, students may learn that technology is not to be trusted and is just another empty promise from adults.

Overall, the Mystery Hangout was an exciting demonstration of how technology is re-shaping our classrooms. I hope to use this in my own classroom eventually. I'm sure my students will have a great time getting to know other students in "parts unknown." The possibilities for new ways to learn are becoming truly endless!