Skype in the Classroom

By Jenn Orona, Rose Mustoe, and Michelle Odenbaugh

Description of the Tool:

Skype is free software that enables users to make and receive video calls, as well as phone calls, conference calls, and screen sharing.

In order to begin, the user creates an account at skype.com and downloads the free software.  From here, connections can be made with other users around the world. 

Skype Explained Visually:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1mflr-kQlk

Skype has become a great tool for use in the classroom.  Teachers wanting to collaborate, experts wanting to share and students wanting to learn can be connected at education.skype.com.  This site provides users to connect and share information in educational settings.  Through the use of Skype, students as well as teachers can be connected with other people and classrooms all over the world.  It is a great place to meet new people, share ideas, as well as create amazing learning experiences.

Activities:

Video conferencing can be used as a standalone activity or it can be used as a tool to enhance Social Studies lessons with other content areas.  Three lesson suggestions are:

1. Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley is a small cut out of a character that students can decorate and can be mailed to various places throughout the school year.  The website http://www.flatstanley.com allows teachers to connect with other classrooms around the world that will host a Flat Stanley.  Classes will take turns video conferencing what Stanley is doing as he visits each location.  This activity can be done as often or sparsely as the teacher chooses.   

Flat Stanley in the Australian outback

2.  Artifact sharing with partner classrooms

          Video conferencing an artifact share with partner classrooms allows students to gain a better understanding of their own classroom autonomy and as well as the different dynamics of other classes.  Teachers can focus on the Social Studies category of civics by specifically sharing classroom artifacts that relate to citizenship roles in the classroom.  For example, classroom A can share their rules chart, seating arrangement and behavior cards.  Classroom B can then share their classroom jobs chart, the students can take turns explaining their reward/discipline system and the currency of their token society. 

3.  Pen-Pals

     Writing to pen-pals is an enriching activity in many ways; by communicating with other students in various parts of the world, children get a chance to use their skills in language arts and learn about the social aspects of places they may not have the opportunity to physically travel to.  If the teacher is wary of communication barriers he or she can partner with teachers from United States military bases.  Once the teacher has made arrangements with another teacher to be pen-pals, the teacher should divide the class into three groups.  These groups will rotate their media of correspondence between letters, e-mails and Skype calls.  The teacher can establish questions the students should ask before each monthly correspondence so the activity can be as educational as possible.

(image from http://www.savethefrogs.com/webinars/skype.html) 

Web Links:

https://education.skype.com/?kme=Google+Adwords&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=signup&gclid=CODSj9_-sLMCFQmmPAodXWQAIA
This website is primarily for the general use of skype throughout the classroom.  It provides inspirational skype lessons that your classroom can be involved in. This is also the web page to use to sign up with a Skype account.  It is definitely a great resource to use for integrating Skype into your classroom.

http://aroundtheworldwith80schools.net/

This website is all about a teacher's guide to pen pals from around the world.  It gives step-by-step instructions on how to create projects from Skype, how to prepare your students for a Skpe call, and so much more! There are also video examples of classrooms that utilize Skype as a resource in their classroom.

https://education.skype.com/collections/penpals-to-write-home-about

This website is a place for teachers to post that they need pen pals or someone to Skype their classroom with.  It is a great resource to use because it includes great projects that students can complete that offer amazing cultural as well as language learning opportunities.  Not only are students creating new learning experiences, but they are also creating friendships!

http://blog.learningtoday.com/blog/bid/41726/10-Ways-to-Use-Skype-in-the-Classroom

This website is a blog that include ten ways to utilize Skype in the classroom.  This website also include ways to connect with others using Skype, five Skype companion tools, as well as projects that students can take part in. This is a great resource for teachers to use to help them see the importance and value of using Skype and to promote project ideas.

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/6573

This website talks about how to get started with Skype.  Skype definitely opens up so many doors of possibility in the education realm.  This specific website include ideas for connecting with other classes, connecting with authors of literature, bring experts into your classroom virtually, take virtual tours and field trips, and collaborate with other professionals.  Skype is such an amazing tool.  Students can even use it to link student with family members who might be in the military.  Students can also create personal messages and greetings from special holidays and birthdays as well. The possibilities are endless with the use of Skype.