// Langwitches Blog

Around the World with Skype (English Version)

Alrededor del Mundo con Skype (Spanish Version)
Here are links mentioned in my presentation “Around the World with Skype” (English Version) and “Alrededor del Mundo con Skype” (Spanish Version) and further tips & resources for teacher who are looking to integrate Skype into their classroom.

Skype
http://www.skype.com

Skype connections mentioned:

• Author and illustrator Mike Artell
  http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/02/12/skyping-in-mike-artell-illustrator-author/
• Author and illustrrator Jan and Phil Huling-
  http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/05/24/skyping-in-author-and-illustrator-jan-phil-huling/
• “I have a Dream” VoiceThread
  http://voicethread.com/#q.b314807.i1687201
• Brian Crosby invited Grace Corrigan
  http://learningismessy.com/blog/?p=267

Here are some great projects, listings and directories to help you find Skype connection partners

• Around the World with 80 Schools-
  http://aroundtheworldwith80schools.wikispaces.com/
• Skype in an Author-
  http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/
• Skype in Schools-
  http://skypeinschools.pbworks.com/
• Skype other Classrooms-
  http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/want-to-connect-with-other-classrooms/
• Skype for Educators-
  http://www.skypeforeducators.com/
• Skype in the Classroom- EduSkypers Phonebook-
  http://skypeintheclassroom.wordpress.com/
• Online Projects for teachers-
  http://onlineproj4tchrs.ning.com/

Screencapturing & Screencasting Programs:

• Skitch
  http://skitch.com/
• Jing
  http://www.jingproject.com/
• Snagit
  http://www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.asp
• CallRecorder for mac -

  http://www.ecamm.com/mac/callrecorder/

• Pamela-

  http://www.pamcorder.com/

Backchannel:

• Chatzy
  http://www.chatzy.com/
• Tinychat
  http://www.tinychat.com
• Todaysmeet
  http://todaysmeet.com

Assigned Roles for Students during Skype Calls.

• Calendar
• Greeter
• Share
• Q&A
• Photographer
• Videographer
• Backchannel Writer
• Google Maps Placemarks
• Google Earth Distance
• Blogger Live
• Blogger- Word Problems
• Data Form
• Time Elapsed

Assigned Roles and their Descriptions

More Skype tips

• Grand-Friends and Fairytales’ reading hour with elderly people in the community and our Kindergarten classes
• Make the topic of your skype call an extension of their learning or reinforecement of a concept, rather than an introduction. If the stuents have an existing background knowledge, they can ask much deeper and more involved questions.
• Know something about the geographic location you are calling. Visit it prior to the call with Google Earht. Compare and contrast the community and location.
• Devise and activity to practice descriptive language. When two groups of students described themselves over the voice connection and people on the other end had to guess which photograph matched the speaker.
• Invest in a good USB microphone.
• Start small and simple. Then start getting more and more connections and you will use it more and more.
  Don’t try to make a big huge project project out of it the first time you use it. Just call us for 5 mins of meet and greet fun
• There is a learning curve for the kids- the more they conference the better they become at learning how to converse, how to listen, how to think ahead to the next visit.
• Give each student a world map and each time the class connects with someone, have the students place a dot and name next to where the individual was from to teach geography.
• It’s definitely a work in progress , but I have seen the positive excitement, energy and learning that can result from using Skype to connect with others.
• One teacher invited her administrator in for the first Skype call and got immediate support. Inviting parents in to a Skype call also guaranteed their support.
• If a call doesn’t go well, keep trying.

Possible questions to ask for data collection purposes:

• What is the weather like? Ask about temperature, seasons, etc
• What time is it where you are located?
• What books do you like to read?
• What music do you like to listen to?
• What movies are playing in the theatres right now?
• What are your favorite television shows?
• What does your flag look like?

Overcoming time zone challenges:

• http://www.clocklink.com/world_clock.php
• http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Resources

• Langwitches’ Skype in the Classroom Del.icio.us tag -
  http://delicious.com/langwitches/skype_in_classroom
• Langwitches Blog Video Conference category-
  http://langwitches.org/blog/category/video-conference/
• 50 Awesome ways to use Skype in the Classroom-
  http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-classroom/
• Chrissy’ Hellyer’s Room 202 Skype Tips-
  http://room202.edublogs.org/skype-tips/
• Kim Cofino’s 4 Steps to a Skype-tastic Video Conference-
  http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2007/05/07/4-steps-to-a-skype-tastic-video-conference/
• Dummies.com- Using Skype at School-
  http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/using-skype-at-school.html
• Anne Mirtschin- Using Skype in the classroom-
  http://murcha.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/using-skype-in-education/
• Sue Wyatt- Improving our Skype Calls-
  http://wyatt67.edublogs.org/2008/12/20/improving-our-skype-calls/
• Videoconferencing Out on a Lim Janine Lim-
  http://vcoutonalim.org/
• Digitally Speaking:Handouts, Checklists for successful video conferencing http://digitallyspeaking.pbworks.com/Videoconferencing

3 Essential Questions: Around the World with Skype

1. Please share some of the benefits you have observed with our students as you are making connections around the world with skype.
2. What are some of the obstacles you have faced AND overcome in connecting your class to a global community via video conference ?
3. How are you connecting and integrating authentic learning via these global connections to your curriculum?

3 Preguntas :Alrededor del Mundo con Skype

1. ¿Qué beneficios/ventajas  obtuvieron/has observado en  tus alumnos al hacer  conexiones   alrededor del mundo con Skype?
2. ¿Cuáles son los obstáculos que has encontrado y/o superado al conectar con una comunidad global vía Skype?
3. ¿Cómo logras integrar este aprendizaje auténtico en tus planes de estudios/en tus clases?