Skype

This weekend I gathered up my kids for our weekly Skype call to their grandparents in Sweden. My sons showed our Christmas tree and my mother and father showed all of the snow outside of their window. Living on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, away from friends and family, Skype has become an essential tool for staying in touch.

Skype is an application for your computer and smartphone that allows you to call other Skype users, as well as land lines and cell phones.  It also supports video calling between two or more Skype users. You can start using Skype at no cost. If you need group video calling or want to call real world phones, there is a charge. Prices are reasonable though. 

Getting started is easy. Simply go to http://skype.com and follow the instructions. When you have downloaded the application and signed in, you are ready to place some calls. The first thing you are going to want to do is add some contacts to your address book. The easiest way to add someone to your contacts is to know their Skype name. 

Remember: Your computer needs to have a microphone and speakers attached. 

There are a lot of ways that Skype can be used in education. It opens up the world to the students and allows them to connect with people from all over the globe. It is common for schools to have sister schools in other parts of the world. By using the video calling feature of Skype you can bring the students closer together. 

Skype calling with English-speaking sister classes provides a great way for students to practice their English. You can remotely collaborate on projects, learn more about the other students’ culture, and gain a greater understanding of other people. Even small things like seeing that it is dark outside the other class’ window while the sun just rose where you are increases the students’ understanding of the world.  Your students can also use Skype to talk to various subject matter experts. For example, if your class is doing a dinosaur project you can set up a discussion with a paleontologist where the students can ask prepared questions in English.

Skype has made an educational portal where teachers can find Skype lessons, get in touch with experts from different fields who want to share their knowledge, or other teachers who want to collaborate. You can sign up at http://education.skype.com. By using this portal you can find sister schools and experts to get in touch with.

When setting up a video call there are a number of things you can do to improve the experience. Ensuring that you have adequate Internet bandwidth helps you avoid problems like frozen or jerky video. By using an HD webcam, a TV/projector, and speakers, you can improve the feeling of presence. It’s good to agree on a routine for how to go about asking questions during the Skype call, to minimize confusion.

Video calling with my family in Sweden has made a world of difference when it comes to staying in touch. For my children to be able to *see* their grandparents is a whole new level of communication quality. Similarly, Skype can open up a whole new world to students that they never knew existed. 

// Rebecca Montag