emerging technology cynthia smith. skype in the classroom connect students with the global...
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Skype In the Classroom
Emerging TechnologyCynthia Smith
Skype in the Classroom connect students with the global community
Builds collaboration Provides access to experts Create or join lessons with students and
agencies from around the world
Purpose
Forsyth County Learner Profile
Listen, Communicate andInteract Effectively
Communicate responsibly and effectively through reading, writing, listening, and speaking Work cooperatively with others Develop and maintain positive relationships
Forsyth County Learner ProfileSupported by Skype in Classroom
Engage and Compete in aGlobal Environment
Develop awareness of national and world issues and events, and their impact Understand and respect one's own culture and other cultures Interact productively within various cultures
Forsyth County Learner ProfileSupported by Skype in Classroom
Forsyth County Schools will maximize technology to positively impact student achievement and system level initiatives.
Technology will be utilized by students and adults to produce quality work and to create an environment where there is excellence.
Technology is imperative to the work of students and adults and will provide the resources necessary for an effective and efficient operation to achieve results.
Technology Vision of Forsyth County Schools
Lessons allow students to collaborate with experts and other students.
Students can create original products as part of the collaborative lessons.
Students are able to reach a new level of understanding as they connect with others from different backgrounds, culture, and learning.
How Skype in the Classroom supports Technology Vision
Our students population is broken up as follows:
White 73% Hispanic 12% Asian 8% Black 3%
Target Population
The lack of diversity in our school system indicates a need for the students to connect to the global community.
Students need to learn to collaborate with others from different cultures and backgrounds.
Students need to learn about diversity in the world and the power of learning from others of different backgrounds.
Target Population
Skype in the Classroom allows students of all ages to participate in the global community.
Skype in the Classroom can be used on the one computer or on multiple computers for more than one student to have a conversation at the same time.
Students would participate in the classroom. Students have access to 4 computers in each
classroom. Students also have access to class sets of
laptops that can be used to skype.
Target Population
Teachers have a laptop in class that connects to an Interactive Whiteboard that can be used to broadcast on the big screen.
Teachers have access to iPads to use with the Interactive Whiteboards also.
There are 2 webcams available for teachers to use from the Media Center.
Target Population
Skype in the Classroom requires an Internet connection.
A webcam and microphone is also required to use Skype in the Classroom.
Use of Activboard will broadcast call to whole class. Download of Skype free software requiring1. Operating Systems: Windows XP, Windows Vista, or
Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions supported)2. DirectX v9.0 or above3. Processor: At least 1-gigahertz (GHz)4. Memory: 256 megabytes (MB) of Ram
Equipment Needs
Skype is not new, however Skype in the Classroom is.
Skype has a technical support. Support for Skype is the Classroom is still being developed.
Forsyth County has a Instructional Technology Specialist and Media Specialist in each school that are very familiar with technology integration and problem solving.
Technical Support
Student safety is always a concern in Forsyth County.
Students are required to be 13 years of age before they can create their own Skype acct.
That means teachers must create the account and be the only ones to use it if students are under 13 years of age.
Limitations
Teachers must keep close monitor on who students are conversing with.
Teachers must have a discussion on what is appropriate to share over the Internet.
Teachers may wish to come up with a permission slip to send home with students. Here is an example of one here.
Limitations cont.
Skype in the Classroom is free for one user at a time. However if you want access for multiple users at one time, you must have a premium Skype acct.
The Premium Skype account is $4.99 a month.
Each teacher needs there own acct if there will be frequent use so there is no overlap.
Cost
A Premium acct for each teacher would be a cost of approximately $600.
I don’t believe we need a webcam for every class, but 2 per grade level would be sufficient. The cost of to purchase web cams for the school would be $300.
The Media Center has microphones for use. There will be a price to replace as they become broken.
Cost Cont.
The Media Center at my school has a built in technology budget to purchase technology for use.
The PTA funds technology projects that they feel benefit all students.
Potential Funding
Teachers can use Skype just like regular to Skype with other classes that are already contacts to the teacher. It is just like making a regular phone call.
Skype in the Classroom allows teachers to connect with projects that are created by others.
Teachers can browse for projects that are associated with the standards that they are or will be teaching.
How to use Skype in the Classroom
Teachers can have direct conversations or set up skype-pals to communicate with.
Students can learn about global cultures when they connect with classes from across the world.
Students can learn different languages from students who actually speak the language.
How to Use Skype in the Classroom Cont.
Teachers can find lessons that have been created by experts such as NASA, Government Ambassadors, Museums, Olympic Medalists, Publishing Companies, scientists, etc.
Teachers can find lessons created by other teachers. The teachers are looking for classes to collaborate on that are in direct correlation with current standards.
How to Use Skype in the Classroom support Collaboration
Students can be paired with experts to help students understand content.
Students can collaborate with other students who can help them understand other cultures and languages.
Students develop communication skills.
How does Skype in the Classroom support Learning Goals
Students can contact different support at the times the time that works for them.
Students can learn from experts to explain what they need to understand.
Students can connect with other students to discuss their understanding and explain their individual thinking.
How does Skype in the Classroom support Differentiation
While Skype has been around for awhile for personal and business use, Skype in the Classroom is new.
The uses and potential for Skype in the Classroom is being discovered.
Skype encourages students to “use an inquiry-driven, project-based approach for working with gifted students in third to sixth grade. "My kids are used to that sense of exploring. They want to know. They want to ask. They're constantly thinking” (Boss, 2004).
The Research
“My school experiences involved day-to-day blackboard-style lessons that rarely encouraged interaction or engagement outside our classroom walls. The occasional school trip was always a highlight. These days, by using Skype in the classroom, a virtual school trip can be an everyday learning experience “(Alovering, 2013).
The Research Cont.
“In addition to combating logistical hurdles, educators say targeted use of Skype can bring pedagogical benefits, whether it makes students conduct research necessary for a video presentation more seriously, encourages instructors to focus on broader concepts instead of individual problems because tracing and fixing student work directly is more difficult, or exposes students and teachers to real-time technology problem-solving” (Quillen, 2011).
Skype in the Classroom is still emerging. There is evidence that it can encourage collaboration and communication within the global community.
The Research Cont.
I believe that this should be started on a small scale with a test group of teachers.
We are a BYOT school so teachers and students will have access to devices in their classrooms making the technology side easy to implement.
The Media Specialist will contact a small group of teachers to pilot the program.
Teachers and the Media Specialist will decide on a introductory lesson for their class to join.
Implementation
Teachers will be asked to participate in at least one Skype lesson. It is my hope that they will enjoy Skype in the Classroom and use it more than once.
Teachers will meet with Media Specialist to discuss the questions and process. Teachers will also discuss the outcome once the lesson is completed.
Teachers will present to the rest of the faculty at the end of the year.
Implementation
I have used Skype before with teachers who have contacted other classrooms within our district.
The students were engaged and thoughtful in their questioning and built collaboration and relationships with the classes that they Skyped with.
I began wondering if this couldn’t happen within the global community instead of just within Forsyth County.
Reflection
After looking at the projects/lessons available on Skpye in the Classroom, it seems like a wonderful technology tool to encourage collaboration outside of our county.
Our new Learner Profile places emphasis on learning about other cultures and becoming part of the global community.
Skype in the Classroom encourages collaboration and learning about each other in ways that could never have been done before this technology was present.
Reflection Cont.
Considering the very low price and the availability of the technology it would be a good investment in order to open the world to our students.
I do believe that this would require some explanation of the benefits to all stakeholders (parents and community) before it took off in the school on a large scale.
Reflection Cont.
Boss, S. (2004). Mock Elections Via Skype. Retrieved July 9th 2013 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/mock-elections-via-skype-suzie-boss
Alovering, D. (2013). Skype in the Classroom. Retrieved July 9th 2013 from http://www.pil-network.com/Resources/Tools/Details/443bf825-a719-4bd7-8349-04b65cf1d1ac
Quillen, I. (2011) Educators Move Beyond the Hype over Skype. Retrieved July 9th 2013 from http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2011/02/09/02skype.h04.html
Resources