Presentation

Posted on July 17, 2009 in by tflores1

Skype in the Classroom

Part I: Skype Demonstration

Cisco TelePresence Commercial

What is Skype?

  • Internet telephone service that allows you to chat, share files, share hyperlinks, and conference call as well as see each other on video.
  • Services are FREE when communicating computer to computer.

Using Skype in the Classroom

How do we use Skype?

  • Download  (Some schools do block sites like Skype)
  • Set up an account (Teachers suggest that students do not use their real name when setting up an account.)
  • Start contacting:
    • other educators
    • students
    • classes
    • museum curators
    • authors
    • political officials
    • ANYONE WHO COULD SERVE AN EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE

Part II: Teacher to Teacher or Classroom to Classroom Skype

See Me, Hear Me, Skype in the Classroom By Carolyn Foote (January 1, 2008)

  • Students at Westlake High School in Austin, TX, were able to skype chat with author Cynthia Leitich Smith. (Rain Is Not My Indian Name, 2001 and Tantalize, 2007.)
  • Private meeting was set up between teacher and author.
  • The teacher wanted to have her students “visit” with the actual author.
  • The author wanted to thwart “inaccurate stereotypes of Indian people as ‘primitive’ was to embrace technologies that would help me connect with young readers.”
  • 4 students were invited in to be the scribes, posting questions, while the other students followed the question on the projector.
  • “Students liked the immediacy of the session.”
  • The Virtual Staffroom
    • You can listen to a podcast of the high school’s librarian discussing the use of Skype in the classroom with another teacher. (Episode 19: Beyond the Filters)

Apace of Change Blog (March 19, 2008)

“In our session debrief, I asked my students what the value of an experience like this was for them – not why it was cool, or new, but what value it held for them. Responses centered around these major concepts:”

  • first-hand access to a living primary source
  • interactivity & having the ability to probe and ask for explanations & clarifications
  • hearing a non-American perspective; combating ethnocentrism
  • greater investment in preparation
  • greater overall engagement due to all of the above

The Many Roles of Skype in the Classroom Posted by Neil Stephenson (February 15, 2009)

  • Collaborate with museum curator on Canadian students’ history projects that were posted on their blogs.
  • Curator was able to provide feedback to students through Skype.
  • Following year, the teacher used Skype again to collaborate with a teacher on the same history project.

Horizon Project 2008

  • Students from around the world analyze and compare information and make predictions.
  • Used Skype to collaborate.

Part III: Teacher to Student Skype: Tutoring with Skype

Skype Directory – Tutoring and homework

  • Tutoring advertisements on Skype website
  • moderately priced, most academic help ranges around 15 cents a minute
  • Huge directory ranging from language help to science and mathematics
  • Part of the Skype website makes it very convenient

Onlineturoringworld.com – Guide to tutoring using Skype

  • Website made for EFL/ESL tutors
  • Secure and reliable site
  • Due to popularity and simplicity many tutors have switched from Yahoo and MSN to Skype
  • Skype is currently translated into 24 languages making it a great tool for ESOL and language tutors
  • ESL students can get help with documents since files can also be translated and shared

Professor Vargas – Online Tutoring

  • Online English Professor
  • All classes are done through Skype
  • Very convenient considering it can be done from each participants home

Skype can also be used within Schools by teachers after school hours

Part IV: Student to Student Skype: Skype Pals

Random Connection: Skype Pals

·         Diane McAlister’s first grade class at Reidville Elementary School’s was able to Skype with their pen pals in Washington State

·         Teleconference with both classes as a whole

·         Each student was able to meet and talk to their partner through the web cam

·         The teacher gave them questions to ask

·         Extra: they use the audio portion of Skype to let homebound students listen to the class.

Skype Buddies for Language Learners

·         Interested in-High school language learners getting paired up with individuals who are native speakers in the language that the students are learning (french, spanish, mandarin).

·         Reply-his students used Skype video to talk to an English class in Russia.

o   Russia students were able to practice their English

o   US students learned about Russian culture

·         Websites were you can find Skype Pals

o   Skype in Schools (Skype Extras**)

o   Epals

o   Students of the World

o   Teachers.net (resource not included on this blog)

Epals

·         Account you create (Students, Teachers, and Parents)

·         Search for a classroom

·         Connect with other ePals

·         Blog

Skype on the iPhone

**Skype Extras

Lists other options you have when using Skype

·         Callgraph

·         Innerpass

·         SkypeCap

·         Talk’n'Write

·         Unyte Application Sharing

·         Yugma alone and with Skype

·         Yuuguu (Powownow)




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