Skype

= Using Skype =

Skype™ is a free software program that when installed on your computer works with your Internet connection to turn your computer into an Internet phone, allowing you to make free Skype-to-Skype calls to anyone in the world at any time - day or night. However, Skype is much more than a method of calling others. Skype also allows you to send an Instant Message to another Skype user, participate in a video call with another Skype user, share files, and manage your contacts, groups, and conversations, and much more.

There are a variety of ways to use Skype in the classroom including: collaboration with another class on a joint research project, bring authors or other speakers into the classroom via Skype, allow home-bound students to participate in the classroom environment and share documents, learn about other cultures from students around the world, conduct interviews, participate in a book study with another class and hold web book talks, students can create virtual presentations for students in other schools, attend webinars with students to raise awareness on a variety of subjects, practice public speaking/communication skills.

Skype is also a valuable tool for administrators. According to Skype they have over 405 Million users and 30% of the users are using Skype for business communications. In order to reduce costs, many organizations are using Skype for videoconferencing, interviewing potential employees, parent conferences, and professional development. Skype is one of the most widely-used tools to create Personal Learning Communities.

Skype session e-handout.



**Skype Resources:**
====An excellent guide written by an educator which includes instructions for Installing Skype and creating your Skype username as well as setting up your profile. The guide also provides information about how to use Skype to send or receive instant messages and make audio and video calls to your contacts in Skype. There is a section on Using Skype in the Classroom to assist you in designing lessons to integrate Communication and Collaboration in the classsroom.==== Complete Educators Guide to Using Skype in the Classroom

Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD offers access to a variety of training materials in Atomic Learning for just-in-time professional development, technology integration and support empowering educators to use technology to positively impact student achievement. Resources in Atomic Learning teach educators how to apply technology to engage students through a library of over 50,000 short, easy-to-understand tutorial trainings that can be used as valuable curriculum supplements. Skype Tutorials in Atomic Learning Atomic Learning also offers resources for collaborating in a global community, with links to Skype resources. Communication in a Global Community

From the Skype website. Top uses of Skype in the Classroom including: cultural and language studies, bringing expertise into the classroom such as the author of a book or subject matter specialists, and parent participation. In our District, we have a parents who have volunteered to share lessons with their children's class about their jobs, and have even provided tutorials. To meet new people, discover new cultures and connect with classes from around the world, register on the Skype in the education site.

Technology 4 Kids wiki for Skype resources.Skype resources for kids Reference from the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) blog about the many roles of Skype in the classroom. The Many Roles of Skype in the Classroom

From the Skype website. Resources for innovative ways of using Skype in education including: bringing speakers to the classroom, mentoring through Skype, and connecting global classrooms through literature content. There are some great ideas available here. Innovative Ways of Using Skype

A presentation about how Skype can support K-12 Administrators to sustain Professional Growth. Administrator Use of Skype

Twitter Resources for Skype:

Skype in the classroom: Skypeclassroom Kim Allen: kallen214 Peggy Hale: phale