Skype
Live video communication has potential to open lots of doors
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Skype
Pros: It's free and allows people all over the world to connect with each other in powerful ways.
Cons: Often buggy and frustrating to use, it may require patience, and the ability to keep cool while you troubleshoot technical difficulties in front of the class.
Bottom Line: With a bit of work and a measure of patience, Skype can be an excellent classroom tool to expand students' horizons.
Skype in the Classroom is an outstanding resource that goes beyond standard chats; it features lesson plans, classrooms that are looking for learning partners, and many more educational opportunities. You can also hook up with Mystery Skype, a really fun program that brings two classrooms together to solve mysteries.
The most practical way in which most teachers use Skype is to bring far-off guest speakers into the classroom for video discussions. While many guest speakers would love to visit schools, the logistics of travel often make this difficult, if not impossible. While a video call with an expert can't completely replicate an in-person visit, it's still a great way to enrich the experience students have in your class.
Skype is a website that allows users to communicate using video and voice calls. Its basic features are free, but you can also access additional features like group video calls or SMS, either by paying as you go or by subscribing. After downloading and installing Skype, a log-in screen will appear. You can sign in using a Skype, Facebook, or Microsoft account. You can add contacts using someone's name, Skype handle, or email address.
After adding contacts, you're ready to start calling. Click on the name of the person you'd like to chat with; if there's a green light next to their name, they're already signed in and ready to receive your call. They'll answer, and you should be able to hear them as well as see them using your webcam. During your video call, you can also share screens or send files, which can be very useful in a classroom setting.
Skype is an incredible idea, and when it works, it's a world-changing free resource that's opened up communication for millions of people. But it can sometimes seem like one of those modern conveniences that's more trouble than it's worth. The program is notoriously buggy; sometimes calls get dropped for no reason, or connectivity is terrible at random times.
Because of these issues, it's difficult to predict how well a Skype session will go, but it's more likely to run smoothly if you have new, high-quality equipment. However, even at its fussiest, Skype has a great deal of potential for classroom use. Although there's nothing like face-to-face communication, Skype's video calls get close to replicating that experience.
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Skype in the Classroom
I think it is a great tool to use! You do need to play with Skype first and make sure you understand how it works. There are a lot of features that it has that could be beneficial if you know how to use them. The students really enjoy Skyping with other people, but depending on the age their attention span may not be long. I would think about how long you want your Skype to be. You may need to make it on the shorter side for the younger students. Skype in the Classroom has some great resources that you can use to integrate Skype into your classroom.
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