5 Ways to Explore Skype in the Classroom

Skype is a Microsoft product primarily designed for videoconferencing. Meanwhile, in recent years and due to the unprecedented wave of technology-driven education, Skype has been deployed as a distant learning tool for cross-cultural interactions among students and teachers across the globe.

Skype in the Classroom is an online community that enables thousands of teachers to inspire the next generation of global citizens through transformative learning.

How to Create Skype Activities

Skype Activities give educators like you the opportunity to share your expert knowledge with classrooms around the world in real time.

Below are 5 possible ways teachers can explore Skype for classroom engagement with their students: 

 

Skype Lesson

Skype Lessons are 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.
 

 

Mystery Skype

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.

 

 

Inviting a Guest Speaker

Guest Speakers (Microsoft Experts) give Skype sessions for classrooms without the need to set up a Skype Lesson page. Teachers can request sessions with Guest Speakers via their profiles if they think their background and experiences will work for the subjects they are teaching. This is a great option for those with more limited availability as there tend to be fewer requests made of Guest speakers than for Skype lessons.
 

 

Virtual Field Trip

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
 

 

 

Skype Collaboration

Teachers create Global Projects everyday in the Microsoft Educator Community!

Skype Collaborations are projects or Skype Lessons created by teachers to connect their classroom with another classroom around the world. Skype Collaborations can make learning global EVERYDAY for students and empower them to take action in ways that are meaningful to them.

Setting your availability for Skype Activities

To participate in Skype Activities like Mystery Skype or create a Skype Collaboration you need to set up your availability for other teachers to be able to contact you.

Related Post: Microsoft Assistance for Dyslexic Students

 Credit to Microsoft for Education