Video conferencing services enables sharing of 'ideas and passions'

Students throughout the United States are using video conferencing technology to take classes remotely, connect with students all over the world and learn from teachers and resources virtually. Educators and schools are embracing the technology because it improves coursework in current events, historic milestones, economic trends and cultural norms. Students can interact in discussions, collaborate on projects and investigate further on a variety of topics.

In an interview with Education Week, Lisa Nielsen, author of Teaching Generation Text, said video conferencing bridges cultural gaps for students and brings many subjects to life.

"In the future, I think there are going to be big changes in the way countries are defined, because people around the world are going to be connecting and bonding with each other in a way that doesn't involve places, but their ideas and passions," Nielsen said.

For example, more than 100 culinary arts students in Western New York high schools are going to be taking lessons from some of the nation's top chefs using video conferencing. In collaboration with the Culinary Institute of America, ProStart and the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES, the high schools will connect students to culinary experts who will lead teams in preparing their specialty dishes, Durkin, New York, news source Observe Today reported.