Skype allows teachers, students, colleagues, and parents to Communicate by voice using a microphone, by video using a webcam, and by instant messaging over the Internet. Everyone has to be registered with Skype for the free service, otherwise, there is a charge to someone not in the service, or calls to landlines, and cell phones.

Skype

Here’s a little information to help get you started

with using Skype in the Classroom.

By Regina Davenport

In two-way communication forums, students are provided with real time virtual instruction by teachers who may be next door or thousands of miles away.

Students can interact with other students anywhere in the world whose schools are registered participants using their computers or...

They may have access to viewing a large screen or whiteboard.

There are endless opportunities to bolster knowledge in science, social studies, and other subjects.

As students interact with other students, they become more willing to invest in building skill in communication and problem solving skills.

How do students benefit from such technologies?

Teachers, look at all the possibilities of sharing with colleagues, and other students across the globe

Read how other teachers are using Skype and their feelings about it. http://techland.time.com/2012/11/28/how-teachers-use-skype-in-the-classroom/#ixzz2srLXrgv8 .

Your Teacher Homepage for Skype in the Classroom will look similar to this, depending on how you set it up! As you can see, it’s pretty user friendly.

“Skype In the Classroom “ Go Ahead! Signup and try it!!

https://education.skype.com/

Students can meet, share, and respond on a googledocs; while having a live discussion as they work simultaneously on a document to produce a finished product.

Skype In The Classroom makes it possible to bring into the teaching environment many other 2.0 tools.

Photo Reference: digitalphotos.net

Students could practice conversational

foreign languages with native speakers.

Teachers can provide additional support for students

needing extra attention or unable to come to class.

Skype Videoconferencing

It’s like a field trip, that could be anywhere in the world. So it’s great for subjects like language arts, science and social studies, as well as, math; and students learn through exploring, communicating, analyzing, and sharing with others who might be located in other classrooms, cities, states, and around the world.

Students enjoy asking questions and listening to someone who may have written a book, perhaps sharing their motivation for writing the book with students. Having such experts visit students in the classroom allows them to interact first hand and leaves students with an invaluable experience.

Skype Conferencing in the Classroom

Look at Barbara Mahler’s classroom Skype Conferencing examples as she discusses her story with students : “A Hole In The Wall” http://youtu.be/uViuWDbuNaY http://youtu.be/yMu5ryAHfGs

Virtual Trips

Bring students into the STEM program through NASA’s virtual trips. Videoconferencing with Skype allows students in multiple schools to collaborate around the world with subjects like science and social studies, and be able to work on relevant issues as teams.

Skype Videoconferencing Lesson in Science

Through the NASA program, 6th through 8th grade students would be able to invite NASA scientists by Skype videoconferencing, to discuss careers in science, and why students should want to become Scientists. They would share with students the different types of scientists one might become and reveal to the students what is required to become a scientist, and what students can begin to do now in preparation for a possible career as a scientist later. Students would be able to share their thoughts and to ask questions to the videoconference visitors. As a treat, the NASA visitors might give a special presentation from the virtual NASA archives, such as “Journey to the Extreme: Your VIP Pass to Mars Virtual Field Trip Archive.” Students could respond in writing about their experiences through their Science web-based discussion board. This could be a program that might be offered to an entire district to reach all middle school classes.

What does a Skype Videoconferencing lesson look like for Language Arts

The eighth grade students have read the online version of the book “The Bronx Masquerade” by Nikki Grimes. They have analyzed and contrasted two of the characters of the book. They have also written their own poetry. They are excited in anticipation of meeting and talking to the author of the book through Videoconferencing. They will be able to listen to her talk about her experience as a writer in New York. Maybe ask about her motivation for writing and a publishing a fictional book of poems written by students at a school in the Bronx, New York. They will also be able to share some of their poems with her. Nikki Grimes will further encourage the writer in them.

There are so many ways to use Skype In The Classroom

•Interview authors, astronauts and other amazing individuals from

around the world.

•Collaborate with classrooms, businesses and more in multi-

disciplinary projects.

•Explore a volcano, rainforest, or history museum in virtual fieldtrips

with experts in the field or even share your field trip experiences with

others.

•Practice conversational foreign languages with native speakers.

•Invite a guest lecturer from leading educators and experts from

anywhere in the world.

•Explore foreign cultures first hand with classroom to classroom video

conferencing.

•Broadcast a performance or project to parents and families unable to

make it to school.

•Access and share professional development opportunities with

educators on the go.

•Collaborate with innovative educators to plan units, lessons, and

more.

Reference: Smarttudor.com

Here’s a list of Skype Resources: • http://eduwikius.wikispaces.com/SKYPE

•http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-classroom/

•http://aroundtheworldwith80schools.net/

•http://www.skype.com/en/about/

•http://www.skype.com/en/features/

•http://www.skype.com/en/what-is-skype/ •http://www.teachhub.com/using-skype-classroom •Barbara Mahler “A Hole In The Wall” http://youtu.be/uViuWDbuNaY •Barbara Mahler “A Hole In The Wall” http://youtu.be/yMu5ryAHfGs

View and signup here for the Skype in the Classroom Programs https://education.skype.com/?intcmp=blogs-_-generic-click-_-skype-in-the-classroom-and-reddit-team-up-for-teachers https://education.skype.com/

•http://aroundtheworldwith80schools.net/ •Edudemic Connecting Education and Technology http://www.edudemic.com/10-ways-to-start-using-skype-in-the-classroom/

•Grimes, N. (2002)“The Bronx Masquerade,” New York, NY: Dial Publishing

•Barbara Mahler “A Hole In The Wall” http://youtu.be/uViuWDbuNaY

•Barbara Mahler “A Hole In The Wall” http://youtu.be/yMu5ryAHfGs

•Nasa http://www.nasa.gov/index.html •Smart Tutor Education Programs http://thinkonline.smarttutor.com/10-ways-to-use-skype-to-learn/ •SkypeInTheClassroomProgram https://education.skype.com/?utm_source=blogs.skype.com&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=partners_launch_skypeblog&kme=partners_launch_skypeblog

•www.TeachHub.com

•TeachingDegree.org, http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-classroom/ •Time Tech, Time Magazine http://techland.time.com/2012/11/28/how-teachers-use-skype-in-the-classroom/

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