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Virtual Field Trips
Mystery Skype

Virtual Field Trips are when experts 'out in the field' take students on an experience that is specific to their location e.g.tour guides, explorers, marine biologists, zoologists and scientists.

Video: Introduction to Virtual Field Trips

Getting Started with Virtual Field Trips

1. Now that you've set up your Microsoft and Skype accounts, visit Microsoft's Virtual Field Trip website to see what's available. Use the filter to limit your search results.

2. Once you find a Virtual Field Trip in which you're interested, click the "Request This Virtual Field Trip" button to check available dates/times and initiate contact!

Tip: Plan ahead! Virtual Field Trips may appear weeks before the actual event.

Remember the game "Guess Who?" Well, it just got a tech upgrade! Mystery Skype is an educational game that connects two classrooms who are somewhere in the world. Teachers will know where (and who) they’re calling but students will not. The goal of Mystery Skype is to locate the other class geographically. Students must ask Yes/No formatted questions.

Video: Mystery Skype Introduction

What is #MysterySkype?

#MysterySkype is a fun, teacher-invented learning game that builds students’ cultural awareness, critical thinking, and geography skills.

Two classrooms use Skype and a series of questions to guess each other’s locations. It is suitable for all ages, and gives kids an interactive way to build skills one question at a time. Teachers have come up with a number of variations to go beyond guessing a location-examples include:

Mystery Animal- each class comes up with an animal before the call and the other class must ask yes/no questions to guess what it is
Mystery Number - as you'd imagine- each class selects a number and the other class must deduct what it is!
Mystery Biomes - Where each class guesses which Biome the other class has selected
Mystery History- For older students, you could have them come up with a historical event to guess

How Do I Get Started?

Browse for Mystery Skype participants (e.g., guest speakers, other classrooms, etc.) on Microsoft's Mystery Skype webpage. You can view a list of participants or a map, and filter to limit your search results.
Click on a participant in which you are interested and use the "Request a Mystery Skype" button to find available dates/times and initiate contact!

Build Engagement

Build engagement among your students during a Mystery Skype game by using this Mystery Skype Roles for Students document.

Student Mystery Skype Roles.pdf