Skype is one of the original video conferencing tools available and can be used online, downloaded to your computer, or downloaded to your phone. As Skype Master Teacher puts it, "Your students can connect with other students from around the world, talk to an author, engineer, computer scientist, or venture around the world to a sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica, a sea turtle hospital in Key West, or do some virtual farming in Kenya."
What Can Skype in the Classroom Look Like?
Slideshow: Download Skype & Set Up Account
For the activities that follow in this module, you will need to download Skype and set up a Microsoft account. The slideshow below will walk you through the steps.
Note: When signing up for a Microsoft account, you will need to use a personal email address.
Connect students with experts in their fields using Skype Lessons and Guest Speakers.
Skype Lesson: A specific lesson about a particular subject given by an expert on the subject matter. It is normally given in a presentation format with the speaker talking into the camera and also possibly using screen share and taking Q&As. Skype Lessons often include additional resources for use before, during, and/or after the lesson and are focused around objectives.
Guest Speakers: Bring a subject expert into the classroom without an accompanying lesson page. Guest speakers often have greater availability because they are less requested that those who speak as a part of a lesson.
Once you have found a lesson in which you are interested , use the "Request a Guest Speaking Session" to choose an available date/time and initiate contact!
Connect with classrooms around the world to work on projects, explore different cultures, and build greater compassion and empathy for one another. Skype in the Classroom offers a variety of Skype collaboration Projects created by teachers to connect their classroom with classrooms around the world in one off projects or ongoing ones. Skype collaborations can be used in different subjects and levels and they make learning meaningful for students.
Video: Skype Collaborations Overview
Classroom Inspiration
Use the links below to access videos about how Skype Collaborations have been used in each content area.
Once you have found a collaboration you are interested in joining, use the "Request this Skype Collaboration" to choose an available date/time and initiate contact!