10 Ways to use to SKYPE in the classroom

The possibilities for using Skype in your classroom are endless.  

Here are 10 ways to use Skype ...

1. Interview authors, astronauts, artists, musicians and other amazing individuals from around the world.

2. Collaborate with classrooms (try one at our school!), businesses and more in multidisciplinary projects.

3. Explore a volcano, rainforest, or history museum in virtual field trips with experts in the field or even share your field trip experiences with others.

4. Practice conversational foreign languages with native speakers.

5. Provide additional support for students needing attention or unable to come to class.

6. Invite a guest lecturer from leading educators and experts from anywhere in the world.

7. Explore foreign cultures first hand with classroom to classroom video conferencing.

8. Broadcast a performance or project to parents and families unable to make it to school.

9. Access and share professional development opportunities with educators on the go.

10. Collaborate with innovative educators to plan units, lessons and more. 

10 ways to use Skype in the Classroom is taken from the Learning Today Blog. CHECK IT OUT - the blog is very useful.

The Youtube clip below is of a simple Skype session with the author Barbara Mahler about her book "The Hole in the Sky". This is a very good example of how simple and powerful a good Skype session can be.  When you think about, it's probably easier to workout and plan than a class trip - and NO RISK MANAGEMENT!

A blog I have been looking at recently had the following document for downloading.

http://langwitches.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Skype-call-learning-call.pdf 

This document helps you work through the things you could incorporate into your Skype session. These ideas help you structure a Skype session and make you think about different aspects of learning that can take place in a Skype session.  

ADVICE: 

1. KEEP IT SIMPLE at the start and build things up over many Skype sessions finding out what works for you and your children and what doesn't.

2. Be prepared to SKYPE the CLASS DOWN the CORRIDOR - just to see how it goes.

3. ASK FOR HELP. At RDS the help is always there. Don't hesitate to ask.

4. HAVE FUN! For you and the children.