What is the tool?

The tool that I am introducing you to is Skype. Many people are familiar with it and use Skype for talking with friends and family, but did you know that it can be used for education also?

How can it be used?

Skype can be used to introduce students to people that may not ordinarily have access to and expand learning opportunities outside the classroom without ever actually leaving. Business professionals, museum curators, other educators can be brought in from all over the world to enhance lessons and bring real world perspectives to students without having to come to the classroom.

Students in any part of the world can interact with each other with Skype to share cultures. Students can see true representations of others in their actual environment. Foreign language teachers can allow students to interact with other students that speak the language they are learning in that language. For instance, American students can interact with Mexican students in Spanish, allowing them to practice speaking and hearing proper pronunciation. EduSkypers phone book allows teachers to connect with educators already using Skype in the classroom

Sick students with computer access can be out of school but not miss a lesson. Teachers can broadcast to students at home and use screen share technology to illustrate directly onto the students’ computer. After school enrichment and tutoring can be conducted online with multiple students and one teacher or tutor allowing them to collaborate in real-time.  

Parent conferences can be conducted anytime with Skype.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this tool?

Advantages

·         Skype is free!

·         Screen sharing

·         Face-to-face communication over any distance

·         Absent students can still access the direct instruction

·         Confer with parents with irregular hours anytime

·         Webcam not necessary, speakers and a microphone are only required for communication

Disadvantages

·         Privacy issues may arise

·         Students without a computer or the internet may not benefit

Where can we learn more about this tool?

http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-classroom/

http://blogs.skype.com/en/2007/04/inclusion_helping_a_classmate.html

http://www.iste.org/connect/iste-connects/blog-detail/09-02-15/The_Many_Roles_of_Skype_in_the_Classroom.aspx

http://skypeintheclassroom.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/lets-build-a-community/#comments

What is your opinion of the usefulness of this tool?

It  is my opinion that Skype can be a very powerful tool in the classroom if implemented properly. The students of today use technology all the time and as teachers we should embrace it and integrate as many technology tools as possible to keep students engaged and excited about learning. It only makes sense that twenty first century students want a classroom experience that matches.