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“ It ’ s not about the tools. It ’ s about the skills ” Silvia Rosenthal – www.langwitches.org. Communicating & collaborating with skype. A no-cost alternative to videoconferencing. How educators are using skype with students. Example 1 Example 2 Example 3.
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“It’s not about the tools. It’s about the skills”Silvia Rosenthal – www.langwitches.org
Communicating & collaborating with skype A no-cost alternative to videoconferencing
How educators are using skype with students • Example 1 • Example 2 • Example 3
How educators use skypewith other educators • Statewide REMC group meetings and group work (Skype with Google Docs) • Conference call with multiple sites (talk, share documents and chat at the same time)
What do you need to skype with others? The Basics: • Computer with webcam • Broadband connection • Skype software (free download from skype.com) • Skype account • desktop microphone and earphones, or headset • Contacts in your Skype account list
Hands-on afternoon session Planning Implementing Assessing
Planning for skype in the classroom • Check with your technology director: Is Skype is blocked? Can you download the software? Ask about bandwidth limitations. Any policy concerns? • How does it tie into your SIP and/or tech plan? Next steps: • Find others for collaborative projects (check with wiki for various project ideas and sites) • Time challenges – connecting with others, checking time zones, setting up even within your scheduled class ( http://aroundtheworldwith80schools.wikispaces.com/Time+Zones ) • Pre-event discussions – how does this tie into the classroom topic? What will students do during the event? have students pre-write questions • Management issues ( http://murcha.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/using-skype-in-education/ ) (http://aroundtheworldwith80schools.wikispaces.com/During%20Skype%20Calls )
Other considerations • Always keep a phone handy in case you connect with the other person or are having difficulties connecting • Designate students with certain tasks prior to the event and during the event
During the event • For interviews: Have students lined up in order to ask questions. Remind them to take notes or designate note takers. • Have students collect necessary information for the assignment. • For presentations or sharing: Have students hold artifacts in front of the camera or stand in front of the camera to talk.
assessing • How will you assess what the students have learned after the event? • Have they learned something that could not have been taught via a textbook? • What was the engagement and motivational level of your students? • What worked? • What didn’t? • What would you do different next time?
Assessing – ask student (orally or in writing) • What did you learn from our skype call? • What part of the skype session did you like the best? WHY was that your favorite part? • What did you learn that you could not have learned without Skype? • What do you know now that you didn't know before skyping? • How is a asking or being asked a question on Skype different than being asked or asking a question in the classroom? • Is there anything you would do differently next time? Great resource for planning to assessing - http://langwitches.org/blog/2010/11/20/assessment-of-learning-via-skype/
Some example of using skype • Sype an author after reading a book • Conduct collaborative research with students in another part of the nation or world • Practice communication with another language or culture • Ask questions of experts or community resource people • Conduct parent conferences • Provide mentoring or homework help • Read, present or perform to a remote audience • Collaborate with other teachers (peer work, school improvement planning) • Other ideas?
Project ideas/resoruces • Skype an Author Network - http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/ • Great list of resources – http://edts523ransom.wikispaces.com/Skype • ITL Wayne RESA wiki http://itl-wcresa.wikispaces.com/
Hands-on skype • Create a skype account if you don’t have one already. • Pair up with another person (or two) to do a demo skype call. • Share ideas of how you would like to use skype with the other group that you are skyping with.