Today, my students had the wonderful opportunity to interview Dr. Jean-Claude Bradley about his Useful Chem Project at Drexel University.




I was impressed by their questions, and they really seemed to like the technology.




This was the first time I used Skype and Audacity to record an interview, and it really worked out well (with only a few minor glitches).




It was interesting to watch the students as they prepared their questions ahead of time on the board and decided what order to ask the questions. They were very concerned that everyone would have a chance to ask Jean-Claude at least one question, and they were all concerned about getting due credit for their individual questions.




They were almost saint-like as they approached the laptop to ask questions. One of them said, "It is just wierd to have a computer talk to you, but it is so cool." They wanted to talk more, I think, but were nervous and scared that someone as smart as Jean-Claude would spend his time talking to them. Even after I assured them that they didn't need to know anything about organic chemistry, I think they were afraid he wouldn't think they were bright enough.




Jean-Claude was a good sport since the "ice breaker" was to have one of my ESL students talk to him in French. The student said that was kind of hard because French is his second language and English is his 5th or or so. He said it was hard to think in French because he is usually focused on thinking in English. Both he and my Korean student said they count in their native languages. That is interesting because I know other ESL speakers who report the same thing.




After our little ice breaker, the students asked their questions and respected the order they created. That was very interesting. They didn't want to take too much time because they were cautious of not taking the next person's time.




After we were done recording, a few students commented that they never had the opportunity to interview anyone before and were amazed that Dr. Bradley was so kind to them.




That was an interesting thought.




On their chat board (that they created...woo hoo...independent thinkers), one student said that this interview gave him a different perspective of adults. I thought that was insanely interesting.




I never look down on my students, and I suspect that others like Jean-Claude don't either. Every student that walks into my classroom is my equal, albeit (s)he is at the beginning of the academic journey. Evidently, these kids come in trained with the "us" and "them" approach to learning, and, wow, I am going to have to put a stop to that. Learning is a global endeavor. I learn much from my students (where else would I have learned the proper way to use the phrase, "holla back"). I think education, at least at the college level, is a joint adventure.




Anyway, it was interesting to watch these students work with the technology to meet Jean-Claude. I am reminded of the novel, "A Separate Peace." I am reminded of their blind innocence and acceptance that we know more than they do. I can assure them; I know much less about math than they do.




I appreciate Jean-Claude's time and energy today. He is a pretty busy guy, and I am glad he took time to meet the students. I think they (and I) learned a little more than just the concept of Open Source Science.