Skype

=Skype Project and Resources= Click here to add your Skype name to the document //(I'll share it with you via Google Docs)//

The goals of this project are simple - to successfully...
 * Opportunity Description **
 * Download and install Skype at home
 * Learn how to connect with others on Skype
 * Build an awareness of how tools like Skype can allow you and your students to connect with people from all walks (peers, teachers, experts, authors, parents,...) to help make learning relevant, personal, and connected.

To apply these skills, you will find an educator that has volunteered for this project on this Google Doc (will link soon) and contact them via email to set up a day/time to chat about issues surrounding technology, school, teaching, - education - whatever is most pressing on your mind. The only real criteria here are that you are professional (in your communication and punctuality) and that you have a real conversation. You may want to think of a few questions ahead of time to get the conversation going, but feel free to let the conversation take on a life and direction of its own. The length of that discussion is up to you and your interviewee - 5, 10, 15 minutes... or more. Upon the completion of your conversation, you are to publish a blog post that summarizes and reflects on the experience. This will count as your blog post for whatever week you have the Skype conversation. That's it.

Test out your connection and practice if you need to with someone (from class?) __**BEFORE**__ your actual conversation. Don't be late or forget about your arrangement. This is very unprofessional and has happened a few times. These educator/volunteers are happy to share their experience, but busy and will not tolerate unprofessional behavior.

If you cannot Skype from home for whatever reason, then make arrangements to do so from one of the two Mac labs here on campus that have webcams. A test run with someone else from class (family, friends,...) would be a good idea if you are at all uncomfortable with the process of using Skype. Below are some resources to help you.


 * When's it Due? ** Have your conversation completed and blog post published **by December 7**. This blog post will also serve as your required blog post for the week //(unless you do it when the final summative blog post for the course is also due)//. So, to recap the steps:
 * 1) View the spreadsheet (I will email it to you) and add your name to an educator of interest (some allow up to 2 of you to sign up, so be aware of limitations. If so, this is not a group Skype. You each need to negotiate your own conversation.)
 * 2) Contact the educator via email and negotiate a mutual time for your Skype conversation. Of course, you could also use Skype for this.
 * 3) Make sure you take into account any differences in time zone. Don't be late due to a Time Zone error.
 * 4) Practice if you are new to Skype. Everyone, test it out from the location you will be skyping from ahead of time. Work out any possible bugs or problems. Please use a webcam-equipped computer. If you don't have one, you could conduct your conversation in one of the computer labs during open lab time. If you do, don't feel bad if others are in there working. This is a course-related project. Just let them know so that they understand.
 * 5) Have your conversation at the agreed upon date/time
 * 6) Write a blog post that reflects upon the experience. Send an email to your Skype partner to thank them and give them the address of your blog post so that they can read it and perhaps comment.

//**Here's a short video that I made using the iPad screencasting application, Explain Everything, that explains the project in a more multimedia-based way.**// media type="youtube" key="nLAw9YfjZMM?version=3" height="315" width="420" align="center"

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 * Time Zone Converter:** Don't make the mistake of not correctly accounting for another time zone.


 * "How To" Skype Resources **
 * 1) Download Skype
 * 2) The Complete Educator's Guide to Using Skype //(includes how to configure your account and software)//.
 * 3) Skype User Guides/Help
 * 4) Quick Start Tips for New Skype Users
 * 5) Getting Started with Skype (video tutorials)
 * 6) How to set up your microphone or headset
 * 7) YouTube videos on using Skype


 * Skype in Schools **


 * How to Connect with Classrooms/Teachers **
 * 1) Skype in the Classroom Educator Directory. //** Join and add your own profile!!!! **//
 * Find them at @SkypeClassroom on Twitter
 * Here's [|an example project] of the type that you can find there!
 * Here's another: Skype Book Club for Elementary School Kids
 * 1) Skype Partners With NASA and Seven Other Organizations to Promote Video-Calling in the Classroom
 * 2) Authors Who Skype with Classes... for free
 * 3) SkypeInSchools
 * 4) Skype for Educators (directory of skype opportunities)
 * 5) EduSkypers' Phonebook (add yourself to the list!)
 * 6) Skype Other Classrooms (list of countries and classrooms to skip)
 * 7) Skype Teachers/Classrooms Want Ads
 * 8) Video Presentation: Around the World with Skype
 * 9) Join an education social network ning (Global Education Collaborative ) focused on using Skype
 * 10) Sylvia Tolisano's K12 Online Conference presentation on Skype and her project, listed next (#8) - A great presentation to watch to learn about Skype and get ideas.
 * 11) ! How and What to Assess with a Skype Project (Sylvia Tolisano)
 * 12) Around The World with 80 Schools and A Skype Odyssey (Sylvia Tolisano)
 * 13) How to Do Mystery Skype and the Mystery Skype Wiki to help find partner classrooms to participate or this huge Google Doc of teachers/classrooms.
 * 14) Around the World with 80 Schools NING (educator's social network)
 * 15) Skype an Author
 * 16) 50 Awesome Ways to Use Skype in the Classroom
 * 17) ePals Global Community

__** Readings **__


 * 1) See Me, Hear Me: Skype in the Classroom (School Library Journal)
 * 2) Use Skype with Students (Edutopia blog)
 * 3) How Are You Connecting Your Students with the World? Skype in the Classroom (
 * 4) 50 Powerful Ways To Use Skype in the Classroom
 * 5) 5th Graders Go Global with Holiday Card Exchange
 * 6) Educational Use of Skype (eHow)
 * 7) Mystery Skype - Who Could It Be? (great idea!)
 * 8) Using Skype in the Classroom (great Blog post)
 * 9) Learning to Skype in Kindergarten (blog post)
 * 10) Assessment of Learning via Skype (great blog post!)
 * 11) Students Skype with an author
 * 12) Using Skype at School
 * 13) Motivating Adult Learners - Skype an Expert
 * 14) 50 Awesome Ways to Use Skype in the Classroom (blog post)
 * 15) Creating Student Roles in Class Skype Sessions (blog post)
 * 16) Flip, Skype and iPad find everyday usage in Lisa Boeglin's class at Scott Elementary
 * 17) The Many Roles of Skype in the Classroom (ISTE Connects blog post)
 * 18) Using Skype in the Classroom (Video presentation, Tips, suggestions, logistics, ideas...)
 * 19) Make Your Classroom a Global Communication Center with Skype
 * 20) Skype Connects Classrooms Around the World
 * 21) Students' Use of the Internet Opens a New Window on the World From Their Classrooms.
 * 22) Skype in Education Podcast

__** Examples **__


 * 1) Videoconferencing. It's easy, free, and powerful (video presentation from the K12 Online Conference, 2009)
 * 2) Skype in the Classroom Vimeo Channel
 * 3) What Skype in the Classroom Looks Like (video)
 * 4) Videos of Skype experiences in elementary classroom
 * 5) Assessment of Learning via Skype (great blog post!)
 * 6) Music Lessons Over Skype! (NY Times)
 * 7) Yellowstone National Park Rangers can Skype with Classrooms!
 * 8) Mystery Skype
 * 9) (news story) Virtual Field Trips With Skype
 * 10) Students Skype with Jeremy Gilley about his TED Talk, One Day of Peace.
 * 11) Alixandria Horstmann attends school via Skype
 * 12) Ill Homebound Student Attends Class via Skype
 * 13) Skype in the Classroom
 * 14) Student Inter-School Debating With Skype
 * 15) Class Skypes with Lawrence Lessig
 * 16) Sick High School Student Graduates on Skype (CNN)
 * 17) Matha's Vinyard Teacher Uses Skype Video to Extend Reach Off-Island
 * 18) Primary Students Explain Why They Use Skype
 * 19) Two Grade 1 Classes connecting to share poetry.
 * 20) 6th-8th Grade Social Studies students discussing world religions.
 * 21) Kathy Cassidy's 2nd Grade Class Skypes with a GeologistPart 2 Part 3
 * 22) Kathy Cassidy's 2nd grade class returns to school in the evening to Skype with a class in Australia (time zone issue solved)
 * 23) Impressions from Around the World With 80 Schools Skype project
 * 24) Globally... Connect... Communicate (Understanding Jewish Communities Around the World
 * 25) A Skyped Presentation to Teachers.
 * 26) Classroom skypes a parent truckdriver while reading the book, Dear Mr. Henshaw.
 * 27) Earth Day Skype Project
 * 28) Canada's top spaceman Col. Chris Hadfield virtually visits Hillcrest Private School
 * 29) Video Chats Take Students to Other Worlds
 * 30) Make Your Classroom a Global Communication Center with Skype
 * 31) Students sing with a retired teacher over Skype
 * 32) EDTS523 Students Skype with Kathy Cassidy PT1PT2PT 3PT 4PT 5
 * 33) EDTS523 Skype call with Patti Sullivan and Jonathan Bergman/Aaron Sams (Spring 2010)

Other Useful Information**
 * 1) 15 Useful Applications for Recording Skype Calls
 * 2) How to Produce Video Interviews for your Blog Using Skype
 * 3) Wetoku: Alternative to using Skype to record video-based communication with another. Free.