SKYPING IN K-12

What can you do with Skype? The sky�s the limit.

• Hold a poetry reading at which an actual poet in another state reads to your class -- or vice versa.
• Brainstorm teaching ideas with an out-of-town mentor.
• Include an ill student in daily classroom discussions.
• Conduct a conference call for a club or other small group of students.
• Add new life to the same old pen pal project by adding audio and video.
• Conduct virtual classes (distance learning) in an informal setting.
• Help English as an Additional Language (EAL) students practice conversation skills and learn about your community through a weekly call-in session.

To reduce the chance of problems, start small and be sure to practice several times at home and at school without students present. Even just Skyping to a class down the hall or across town to a friend�s classroom is fun at first and will build your confidence level. Also, the first time students are exposed to any tech tool, their excitement often turns to silliness, so be sure to practice before initiating a serious project with Skype.

Skype allows you to send large files to friends or colleagues, an important feature when so many schools limit the size of e-mail attachments. Use Skype to exchange photos, drawings, documents, and more.

As with any telecollaboration, keep in mind that time zones and school calendars differ greatly. Setting up guidelines for discussions also is a good idea. Content that is appropriate for a class at one school might not be considered appropriate in another culture. Honest and polite discussions between teachers beforehand can help prevent problems.

Be sure to check the additional resources located at the end of this techtorial for more ideas on teaching with Skype.

Next: More tips.