Skype

July 30, 2009 at 3:39 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

I have been wanting to learn about Skype. I love it as much as I thought I would. I have learned through this class to explore. I didn’t really appreciate all the wonderful tools available..and all free! Skype can be used as a tool for pen pals. As a learning tool, I have my students write a friendly letter to someone in another state and we mail these. My students love getting to know someone from someplace else. Now I can add Skype to that and they will be able to actually talk with them.

I also can see using this tool to read to another class. Class discussions could happen where two or even three classes could hook up—One of the article mentions epals—This could go as far as the classes reading the same book and having a discussion or a debate about it. My mind is going in circles thinking of the possibilities. As you are learning about other parts of the US geography can be taught. The Website you sent us to, CoolCats Blog, is a great tool and ideas for using Skype. It could also be used as a network to other classrooms in that area as a mapping and sharing tool. Students could link up and discuss the difference with culture, dialect, etc. How cool would it be for my sister in California to talk and show her farm? Possibilities…endless.