Have you Skyped today?
I have learned to get right on things as they happen or else they get in that grand “to do” pile that never seems to empty. Don’t you find that the best-laid plans remain plans if you don’t jump on what has to get done right away? Email is the perfect example. If I just browse through my emails quickly to get a feel for what’s in store for me, I will unintentionally add those emails to a heap. As a practice, I will try to answer an email as soon as I read it, return a call as soon as I hear the voice mail, take out the garbage as soon as I see it full and “get’r done” when possible. That is why I am so excited about Skype this week. It’s the coolest “get’r done” tool out there.
A creative website
Using Skype is the perfect example taking care of business on the spot. Skype is FREE software that you download to you computer so that you can talk, chat or even make video calls for nothing! Skype-to-Skype user calling is over the internet and is remarkably clear. I was introduced to Skype about a year ago and was always going to download it and it somehow it sat on the bottom of that heap. Fortunately for me, I saw Melissa do an outstanding demonstration of it at FETC and then Tom said, “Just do it!” and I’ve been Skyping ever since. One of our teachers demonstrated her nightly conversation to her sister in Greece (in Greek, of course). Think of the educational possibilities. Ok, I know your mind is already spinning around authors and poets and experts speaking to your students. Keep thinking. Keep thinking.
An image to share
For some very high quality photos, check out FreePixels.
A proverb
“A single conversation across the table with a wise person is worth a month’s study of books.” Chinese proverb
An encouragement
I would really like to encourage you to become a Skype user because everything we do in education really comes down to relationships. If you could make a quick Skype call to an expert or another classroom to collaborate, you will bring an engagement level to the classroom unlike mere text. Please understand that most districts are unsure of how to handle Skype. Does it require a lot of bandwidth? Will it affect the network? I would like to see teachers utilize Sykpe like a field trip with permission slips and preplanning so that everyone is aware that a Skype interview/conversation/collaboration is happening on campus and test it first before blocking it immediately. As a teacher, make sure that you clear this with your administrators before doing anything at school, but in the meantime, try it at home with family and friends and think of the possibilities! Let us know some of your ideas for classroom uses of Skype on my blog.
How do you do that?
Since you are going to “get’r done” right now (right?), go to the download area of Skype and follow the directions on the screen. Once you have the client on your computer, find the Add Contact button and start searching for your friends and relatives. It’s always important to relate to a tool personally before you attempt using it for instructional purposes. If you want to call me just to see how it sounds, please do! My Skype name is seddonk. I just used Skype Thursday evening for a meeting with four teachers and we discussed a research project. The best part was that we didn’t have to leave our families, drive home and viewed the same website together from our own machines. It was VERY effective. Oh, the possibilities! For those teachers who are already using Skype, please consider joining the conversation in our “tuesdays” Professional Learning Community.
What are teachers saying?
Tales from the Teachers in the Trenches
“My students daily address the need to create, connect, and communicate. Skype gives us the ability to connect and communicate ubiquitously. Image talking to a scientist from NASA, marine biologist from SeaWorld, your homebound student, your family in Europe, or your best friend in Alaska. Connect a webcam and video conferencing is the icing on top. However, the ability to talk to multiple people at the same time with crystal clear connection and collaboration is priceless. Fun, easy, and free! Skype away!” Fotini Guzman, Pleasant Hill Elementary School, Computer Teacher
As always, I am
Ubiquitously yours,
K
