What is Skype?
Skype is a free application that allows users to make free audio and video calls through their internet connection. Skype is a type of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application, which uses your dial-up or broadband connection to make free calls over the internet. You can use Skype to connect with one person or a group. It features a chat function, file sharing, audio and video connections, and so much more.
How can it be used?
Skype can be used to connect with one person or a group, chat, file/hyperlink sharing, audio and video connections, and so much more.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this tool?
Here are some examples of the advantages of using Skype in the classroom:
Collaborate with another class on a joint research project
Bring authors into your classroom via Skype
Learn about another culture by connecting students to a classroom from that culture
Learn about geography from students living in an area you are studying
Bring professionals from your content area to "speak" in your classroom
Conduct interviews
Create pod- and screencasts with students from other parts of the world
Study the same book with another class and hold web book talks
Have students in your class create virtual presentations for students in other schools
Attend a webinar with your students raise global awareness
Keep in contact
Report live from a location
Receive or share information about content students have been studying
Practice public speaking skills (communication skills)
Get in contact with an expert on the topic you are studying
Talk to eye witnesses
Here are some disadvantages of using skype in the classroom which mostly relates to technical and security/privacy issues:
Video option is lost once there are more than two participants in the conference.
Long distance and differing bandwidth connections are still unstable. Connections with Korea and Russia were not as stable as those with USA and Canada.
May be blocked in many educational institutions especially universities.
Skype does not like another program being open at the same time if that program also uses a video camera option. So close any other programs down, before using videoconferencing with skype, and restart the computer if necessary.
Security cannot be guaranteed although, operator has option of allowing a person to use your phone number of name, before being listed as a contact.
Risk of viruses over large organizations.
Bandwidth variations
Who is the audience for this tool?
The general internet population - pretty much anyone and everybody.
Where can we learn more about this tool?
http://www.bucksgfl.org.uk/course/view.php?id=42
What are my thoughts on the usefulness of this tool?
I found Skype to be a wonderful tool to use in the classroom. Skype is a free and easy way for teachers to open up their classroom and their students to a world way beyond their campus. With Skype, students can learn from other students, connect with other cultures, and expand their knowledge in amazing ways. Teachers and parents can also benefit from Skype in the classroom by collaborating with one another.
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