Skype to Benefit My Students

I am looking for a classroom or persons to Skype with that will help enrich my classroom's curriculum as well as enhance my student's 21st century learning skills. I have a 2nd/3rd grade combination classroom in a urban/suburban community in milwaukee county. I am new to this and would like to pilot something that would help kick start other classrooms into the Skype world. My students do not know much outside of their community, what a great resource!

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Permalink Reply by Alan Stange on March 19, 2010 at 7:52am

Chris, my 2-3 health class might talk with your class. Their regular classroom teacher might like to expand the contact as well. contact me at wikistange

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Permalink Reply by Christine Albert on March 19, 2010 at 8:36am

I feel silly - I just sent you a message on Skype asking where you are when it was posted at the top of your page... See you on Skype!

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Permalink Reply by bridget halverson on March 25, 2010 at 6:58am

My Skype is working again! Our district changed the proxy. Anyway, My Skype contact is blh from west allis, wi. I am not sure how to do this as my class is a little wild this year but it would be nice to prepare some get to know you questions and then tie it into our curriculum after that. Let me know.

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Permalink Reply by Laurie Pitcher on March 28, 2010 at 10:04am

Hello,
I am an Information Literacy Coach and have a 3rd grade classroom that would love to Skype with you. We joined the Around the World with 80 Schools Project and had a great time sharing information about our locations. My Skype name is lauriepitcher and I'm from Lee's Summit, MO
Laurie

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Permalink Reply by Alan Stange on March 19, 2010 at 7:50am

If you get your Skype connection going we might connect classes. I teach 4-5, but I have a 2-3 health class who might like to chat with your students. Find me on Skype: wikistange

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Durff on March 19, 2010 at 8:36am

BTW, Skype is the best, but not the only VOIP game in town. Also look at
http://evaphone.com/
http://gizmo5.com/pc/download/
http://www.icall.com/?utm_source=Product+announcement+mailing+list&...
http://www.google.com/talk/

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Permalink Reply by Grace Gorman on March 19, 2010 at 7:18pm

I was able to arrange Skype sessions for several of our classes here in Peru to Skype with schools in the Philadelphia area and one in New Jersey. I learned about doing it on classroom 2.0 and decided to try it with no experience. We are now preparing for our 2nd conference and it was a wonderful experience for children and adults. I was very nervous about it but am so happy that I took what I perceived as a risk. Go for it! We speak English as a second language so I am not sure if our 2nd graders can do it yet but I will keep you in mind when we are ready to try it - maybe in October or November.

I would recommend getting a conference camera. We used a Microsoft Life Cam and the sound carried well. We also got a USB extension cord to move the children speaking away from the computer and into the light so they could be seen better. We even did a folk dance.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Durff on March 20, 2010 at 8:51am

I would strongly urge anyone using Skype to configure the video options! Go to tools --> Options --> Video Settings --> Click the radio dial so that you are NOT receiving video automatically from anyone but only from people in your contact list (assuming you trust them).
I have heard of a bad experience when this radio dial was not chosen. We are teaching minors, and in the USA we must abide by certain laws...............

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Permalink Reply by bridget halverson on March 25, 2010 at 7:02am

Let me know. It sounds exciting!

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Permalink Reply by Patricia Mielke on March 20, 2010 at 9:04am

I teach at a technical college and would be interested in connecting with your students with my students. I teach a couple of different classes, but feel it would be a great way to help the students see how easy it is to connect. Let me know if you feel this may work for you.

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Permalink Reply by bridget halverson on March 25, 2010 at 7:06am

This could work. What would you like your kids to get out of this? Let me know how you want to run this?

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Permalink Reply by Mary E Collins on March 28, 2010 at 7:03pm

I have been Skyping with a pen pal class in Texas. I see you have lots of replies so if Bridget gets more than she needs or if any of these don't work out. I'm game to SKype with Bridget or anyone else if it has an educational content!. We have been Skyping about the moon phases. I have a 2nd grade and we are in Illinois. In science, we will be studying plant parts next. librarywork46@yahoo.com
MaryBeth