Web+2.0

Skype for the Web 2.0 application that I found to use in my classroom.

[|Click here for Skype]

[|To learn the history of Skype click here]

Skype: can be used for a variety of educational uses. These uses can range from including skyping in children that are not allowed to come to school because of various reasons that can including terminal illness, contagious illness or some sort of injury that would prohibit students from coming to school. Skype can also be used in videoconferences with other classroom in your district or you can even skype in classrooms from across the country that would share similar curriculum. Skype can also be used in videoconferences with local university, museums or professional in the field of study.

Skype is a powerful educational resource, which can be utilized in a variety of ways. On a local level these uses can range from video conferencing with students that cannot attend school due to illnesses or injuries or videoconferences with other classrooms in the same district; as well as classrooms across the country or world who share the similar curriculum. Skype can also be used for real-time discussions with university professors, museums, or professionals in a particular field of study. Through the use of Skype, educators and students have the possibility to connect to a world beyond the walls of the classroom, which will allow for authentic discussions and learning.

Skype is a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), which is a powerful resource to use a computer to videoconference or talk to someone else using their computer anywhere in the world as long as both computers have Internet availability. Video conferencing is free service, however if you chose to dial a cell phone or a landline you will need to purchase Skype credit. This can be done as a monthly subscription or you can pay as you go. The price of these subscription ranges from three dollars a month for the US and Canada, six dollars a month to call Mexico or ten dollars for unlimited calls to thirty-six other countries.

I found Skype to be very useful; my only complaint is that the Mac version is stripped down version of the PC version. The PC version comes with an available plug in that can increase Skype’s teaching potential. However, you have to purchase most of the Skype plug-ins from various sources. The one plug in I like the most is Call Recorder. This plug-in allows me to record my Skpye conversations in order to protect all parties involved. Call Recorder also allows me to convert my recorded Skpye conversation to a Pod cast that can be posted on a blog, wiki or website.