Resources

Around the World with Skype (English Version)

Alrededor del Mundo con Skype (Spanish Version)

Here are links mentioned in my presentation “Around the World
with Skype” (English Version) and “Alrededor del Mundo con Skype”
(Spanish Version) and further tips & resources for teacher who
are looking to integrate Skype into their classroom.
Skype http://www.skype.com Skype
connections mentioned:

• Author and illustrator Mike Artell http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/02/12/skyping-in-mike-artell-illustrator-author/
• Author and illustrrator Jan and Phil Huling- http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/05/24/skyping-in-author-and-illustrator-jan-phil-huling/
• “I have a Dream” VoiceThread http://voicethread.com/#q.b314807.i1687201
• Brian Crosby invited Grace Corrigan http://learningismessy.com/blog/?p=267

Here are some great projects, listings and directories to
help you find Skype connection partners

• Around the World with 80 Schools- http://aroundtheworldwith80schools.wikispaces.com/
• Skype in an Author- http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/
• Skype in Schools- http://skypeinschools.pbworks.com/
• Skype other Classrooms-
  http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/want-to-connect-with-other-classrooms/
• Skype for Educators- http://www.skypeforeducators.com/
• Skype in the Classroom- EduSkypers Phonebook- http://skypeintheclassroom.wordpress.com/
• Online Projects for teachers- http://onlineproj4tchrs.ning.com/

Screencapturing & Screencasting Programs:

• Skitch http://skitch.com/
• Jing http://www.jingproject.com/
• Snagit http://www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.asp
• CallRecorder for mac -http://www.ecamm.com/mac/callrecorder/
• Pamela-http://www.pamcorder.com/

Backchannel:

• Chatzy http://www.chatzy.com/
• Tinychat http://www.tinychat.com
• Todaysmeet http://todaysmeet.com

Assigned Roles for Students during Skype Calls.

• Calendar
• Greeter
• Share
• Q&A
• Photographer
• Videographer
• Backchannel Writer
• Google Maps Placemarks
• Google Earth Distance
• Blogger Live
• Blogger- Word Problems
• Data Form
• Time Elapsed

“Assigned Roles and their Descriptions”

More Skype tips

• Grand-Friends and Fairytales’ reading hour with elderly people
  in the community and our Kindergarten classes
• Make the topic of your skype call an extension of their
  learning or reinforecement of a concept, rather than an
  introduction. If the stuents have an existing background knowledge,
  they can ask much deeper and more involved questions.
• Know something about the geographic location you are calling.
  Visit it prior to the call with Google Earht. Compare and contrast
  the community and location.
• Devise and activity to practice descriptive language. When two
  groups of students described themselves over the voice connection
  and people on the other end had to guess which photograph matched
  the speaker.
• Invest in a good USB microphone.
• Start small and simple. Then start getting more and more
  connections and you will use it more and more. Don’t try to make a
  big huge project project out of it the first time you use it. Just
  call us for 5 mins of meet and greet fun
• There is a learning curve for the kids- the more they
  conference the better they become at learning how to converse, how
  to listen, how to think ahead to the next visit.
• Give each student a world map and each time the class connects
  with someone, have the students place a dot and name next to where
  the individual was from to teach geography.
• It’s definitely a work in progress , but I have seen the
  positive excitement, energy and learning that can result from using
  Skype to connect with others.
• One teacher invited her administrator in for the first Skype
  call and got immediate support. Inviting parents in to a Skype call
  also guaranteed their support.
• If a call doesn’t go well, keep trying.

Possible questions to ask for data collection
purposes:

• What is the weather like? Ask about temperature, seasons,
  etc
• What time is it where you are located?
• What books do you like to read?
• What music do you like to listen to?
• What movies are playing in the theatres right now?
• What are your favorite television shows?
• What does your flag look like?

Overcoming time zone challenges:

• http://www.clocklink.com/world_clock.php
• http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Resources

• Langwitches’ Skype in the Classroom Del.icio.us tag – http://delicious.com/langwitches/skype_in_classroom
• Langwitches Blog Video Conference category- http://langwitches.org/blog/category/video-conference/
• 50 Awesome ways to use Skype in the Classroom-
  http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-classroom/
• Chrissy’ Hellyer’s Room 202 Skype Tips- http://room202.edublogs.org/skype-tips/
• Kim Cofino’s 4 Steps to a Skype-tastic Video Conference-
  http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2007/05/07/4-steps-to-a-skype-tastic-video-conference/
• Dummies.com- Using Skype at School- http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/using-skype-at-school.html
• Anne Mirtschin- Using Skype in the classroom- http://murcha.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/using-skype-in-education/
• Sue Wyatt- Improving our Skype Calls-
  http://wyatt67.edublogs.org/2008/12/20/improving-our-skype-calls/
• Videoconferencing Out on a Lim Janine Lim- http://vcoutonalim.org/
• Bill Ferriter’s Digitally Speaking:Handouts, Checklists for successful video
  conferencing http://digitallyspeaking.pbworks.com/Videoconferencing

Videoconferencing

1. Learning More about Classroom Videoconferencing
2. Teacher Videoconference Checklist
3. Student Videoconference Checklist
4. Tracking Your Videoconference
5. Conversation Role Play Activity
6. Skype Skills to Master Tipsheet

Reflecting on Digital Conversations

3 Essential Questions: Around the World with Skype

1. Please share some of the benefits you have observed with our
   students as you are making connections around the world with
   skype.
2. What are some of the obstacles you have faced AND overcome in
   connecting your class to a global community via video conference
   ?
3. How are you connecting and integrating authentic learning via
   these global connections to your curriculum?

3 Preguntas :Alrededor del Mundo con Skype

1. ¿Qué beneficios/ventajas obtuvieron/has observado en tus
   alumnos al hacer conexiones alrededor del mundo con Skype?
2. ¿Cuáles son los obstáculos que has encontrado y/o superado al
   conectar con una comunidad global vía Skype?
3. ¿Cómo logras integrar este aprendizaje auténtico en tus planes
   de estudios/en tus clases?