What is Skype?
Skype is for doing things together, whenever you’re apart. Skype’s text, voice and video make it simple to share experiences with the people that matter to you, wherever they are. With Skype, you can share a story, celebrate a birthday, learn a language, hold a meeting, work with colleagues – just about anything you need to do together every day. You can use Skype on whatever works best for you - on your phone or computer or a TV with Skype on it. It is free to start using Skype - to speak, see and instant message other people on Skype for example. You can even try out group video, with the latest version of Skype.
Skype in the classroom is a free community to help teachers everywhere use Skype to help their students learn. It’s a place for teachers to connect with each other, find partner classes and share inspiration. This is a global initiative that was created in response to the growing number of teachers using Skype in their classrooms. Founded in 2003 and based in Luxembourg, our purpose is to break down barriers to communication.
http://about.skype.com/
Basics of Skype
Created by Say It Visually : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1mflr-kQlk
Rationale for Skype in the Classroom
Skype is an awesome world-opener for education. Imagine being able to bring in experts from anywhere on any subject to teach, inspire, and motivate your students. Imagine being able to talk to an author of a book your class just finished reading, and ask him or her questions about the book. Imagine conversing and collaborating with a class half-way around the world. All of this, and more is possible with Skype.
Lesson Design
Overview
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This will be a week unit that will focus on Independence Day. Students will discuss the history, celebrations, and traditions of U.S. Independence day. Students will also be introduced to independence celebrations in other countries. Over the course of a week, students will get to meet individuals of different cultures around the world and learn about their culture and independence day. Students will be using Skype to interact with other students globally.
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Objectives
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- To teach students how Independence Day is celebrated differently by various cultures around the world.
- To teach students about diversity
- To apply Skype to allow students to interact with global students
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Standards
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Social Studies: First Grade: Standard 2: GeographyIdentify cultural and family traditions and their connections to other groups and the environment.
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Materials
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Computer Web Camera World Map Pen and Paper
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Preparation
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Preparation:
Before beginning this activity with students you should discuss what it means for a nation to become independent. You should also locate the culture you would like to explore and make contact with a teacher from that area, which has access to Skype as well. Set up times that are convenient for you both to have students be able to talk to each other, and figure out a schedule so that every student gets to participate.
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Explain to the students the basics of Skype (video chat)
- Let them know what culture they will be exploring
- Give the students a couple of key questions you want answered
- Set up the time blocks for each student
After each student has had the opportunity at the computer, discuss amongst the class what everyone has learned about this particular country’s Independence Day.
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Procedure
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- Students will be led in a discussion about Independence Day in the US.
- Students will be asked to share prior ideas and how they celebrate.
- Ask students to create a visual representation (drawing) of how they celebrate
- Discuss independence days in other countries; ask students to think about differences
- Have students develop list of 5 questions to ask students of other cultures
- Each day a new region or culture will be the topic.
- The time will be around ten to fifteen minutes long and the individual speaking will describe their nation and how they celebrate their country’s independence.
- Students are encouraged to ask questions and discuss what they are learning.
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Evaluation
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Students will be evaluated upon the submitted reflections and participation in class discussion. This could be a drawing or another interpretation that they feel comfortable with.
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Modifications: This lesson could easily be modified from a student-to-student situation to a whole class activity. In order to use this lesson and tool for a whole class activity, children should each be allowed to ask one or two questions about the topic. Both classrooms should use a whitescreen to project the skype page so every student can see what's going on. Each teacher should decide before the session begins the order in which questions will be asked to minimize chaos. Students can be evaluated based on a reflection that they turn in or in the form of a class or small group discussion.
This activity could also be modified to learn about other social studies and history topics.
Research & Readings:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_independence_days
http://www.teachhub.com/news/article/cat/14/item/367
Celebrate Independence Day
by Deborah Heiligman
Extensions:
International Independence Days
To help children understand the concept of independence, ask them about the United States of America’s Independence Day. Why do they think America wanted to be independent from England, How long do they think it too for America to become independent, and how do they usually celebrate the fourth of July?
Independence Day Celebration
Culminate your studies of independence by allowing students to pick a nation and have a classroom international Independence Day celebration. Students can be in charge of the celebrations for their particular country and can also be responsible for informing others students how their nation celebrates. First, help students create decorations that they can use around the classroom to make the Independence Day festivities a little more festive. Before the big day, guide students in how people from the cultures they have been studying would prepare for and celebrate this special day. At the celebration, ask students to speak about the nation they chose and the Independence Day they are representing.
CDE Standards
Colorado Department of Education Standards : http://www.cde.state.co.us/scripts/allstandards/COStandards.asp
Social Studies Content Standards: First Grade
Standard One: Geography
- Develop spatial understanding, perspectives, and personal connections to the world
- People in different groups and communities interact with each other and with the environment
Reading, Writing, & Communicating Standards: First Grade
Standard One: Oral Expression & Listening
- Use language appropriate for purpose and audience
- Demonstrate skill in inferential and evaluative listening
World Languages Standards: Novice-Low
Standard Three: Connections with Other Disciplines & Information Acquisition
- Reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language
- Acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures
Standard Four: Comparisons to Develop Insight into the Nature of Language & Culture
- Demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own
- Demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own
Reading, Writing, & Communicating Standards: First Grade
Standard One: Oral Expression & Listening
- Use language appropriate for purpose and audience
- Demonstrate skill in inferential and evaluative listening
Standard Three: Writing & Composition
- Implement the writing process successfully to plan, revise, and edit written work
- Apply standard English conventions to effectively communicate with written language
Standard Four: Research & Reasoning
- Gather information from a variety of sources; analyze and evaluate the quality and relevance of the source; and use it to answer complex questions
National Education Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T)
https://sites.google.com/site/fall2010websiteexample/nets-t-standards
First Grade:
Standard One: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Standard Two: Design & Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences & Assessments
Standard Three: Model Digital-Age Work & Learning
Other Ideas For The Classroom:
http://blog.learningtoday.com/blog/bid/41726/10-Ways-to-Use-Skype-in-the-Classroom
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Interview authors, astronauts and other amazing individuals from around the world.
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Collaborate with classrooms, businesses and more in multi-disciplinary projects.
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Explore a volcano, rainforest, or history museum in virtual fieldtrips with experts in the field or even share your field trip experiences with others.
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Practice conversational foreign languages with native speakers.
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Provide additional support for students needing extra attention or unable to come to class.
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Invite a guest lecturer from leading educators and experts from anywhere in the world.
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Explore foreign cultures first hand with classroom to classroom video conferencing.
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Broadcast a performance or project to parents and families unable to make it to school.
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Access and share professional development opportunities with educators on the go.
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Collaborate with innovative educators to plan units, lessons, and more.
http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/
- A place to join a network of authors willing to Skype into classrooms to speak with teachers and children
http://blogs.skype.com/play/education/
- Cultural and language studies
- No more missed classes
- Bringing expertise into the classroom
- Disabled learning
- Online tutorials
- Recruitment/Admission process
- Clubs and specialized group projects
- Music or language lessons
- Skype Pals
- Parent participation
http://education.skype.com/
- Meet new people, discover new cultures, and connect with classes from around the world, all without leaving your classroom
http://www.languagesoutthere.com/
- Languages Out There combines the classroom with the street and free virtual learning spaces for a learning experience that is interactive, fun, and uniquely effective.
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