instructions for

Dyslexia Action

First Steps
(Download and Installation).........................................................................................1
Establishing a Connection
(Adding Contacts).........................................................................................................2
Getting in Touch
(Calls, Group Calls, Instant Messages)........................................................................2
Hardware
(Headphones/Microphone)...........................................................................................3
Managing Two Accounts..............................................................................................3
More Help......................................................................................................................3
Skype in Pictures...........................................................................................................4
Normal Skype Window....................................................................................................................4
Notification of a call being received................................................................................................4
Skype interface during a call............................................................................................................5
Notification of a new message or a missed call...............................................................................5

First Steps
(Download and Installation)
• Download and install latest version of Skype
from: http://www.skype.com/download (it's free)
• Register an account during installation beginning your skype name with
da- followed by your name (e.g. da-janesmith). To make you easier to
recognise, add ", Tutor" after your full name in your profile (e.g. Jane
Smith, Dyslexia Action Tutor)
• If you already have a Skype account, you can use that instead or you can
register a new account following the da-yourname pattern to keep your
personal and business Skype conversations separate from your personal
ones (you can even have both accounts open at the same time, if you
want – see below).

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Establishing a Connection
(Adding Contacts)
• To add your fellow tutors to your contacts list, follow these instructions
http://www.skype.com/help/guides/addcontact or see images below. You
can either search for the person’s name or add their Skype name if you
know it. For example, the Technology Support team’s Skype names are:
da-elearning (Dominik), da-moodlesupport (Cherry).
• If you want people to contact you via Skype, add your Skype name to your
email signature.
• Once you add someone as your contact, they will have to accept you as a
contact and as a result, they will have your Skype name and will be able to
call you or Instant Message you when they see you're online.
o You can keep Skype running but if you're busy, you can change
your availability status through Skype > Online Status.
o You can instant message someone even when they're offline - they
will get your message when they next open Skype.
o You will see a notification of received messages or missed calls via
the green Skype status icon in your task bar (bottom right of your
screen)

Occasionally, you may receive requests from people you don't know. Don't
accept these requests (they're not dangerous, just annoying.) If you do accept
an incorrect request by accident, you can always block that contact by right
clicking clicking on it and choosing 'Block this person'.

Getting in Touch
(Calls, Group Calls, Instant Messages)
Once you established a contact with someone, you can contact them in one of
two ways: 1. a voice call; 2. an instant message (IM).

Right click on your contact’s name and choose either ‘Call’ or ‘Send IM’

We recommend that you make use of the Instant Messaging feature to reduce
your email volume for short queries. See here for more
details: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-use-instant-messaging-on-skype.

You can also send a file or even share your screen with the other person in
this way.

You can communicate with multiple people at once via IM or have a

conference call in one of two ways:
1. During a call or an IM conversation, click on ‘Add People’ button in the
top right hand corner of the screen to get them in on the call/IM
2. Before your call/conversation, go to menu Contacts and choose
‘Create new group’, then simply drag the names of people you want in
that group from your Contacts list on the left, to the group area on the

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 right. You can then call them at once or save the group for later. It will
then appear in your contacts list.

You can use Skype to make calls to regular phonelines if you purchase Skype
credit. See here for details: http://www.skype.com/prices.

Hardware
(Headphones/Microphone)
What you need: You will also need a microphone and a headset (USB
preferred). You can use microphone and speakers, as well, but there's a
danger of echo. See here for recommended gear and some tips on better
sound: http://training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk/webinars/audiotips.

How to make sure it works: When you first register on Skype, you first
contact is Echo / Sound Test Service. Call that contact to make sure your
audio equipment is set up correctly.

Managing Two Accounts

If you want to have two or more Skype accounts open at the same time (e.g.
personal / Dyslexia Action or Dyslexia Action / Students), you have to create
an additional shortcut to Skype on your desktop. It just takes three simple
steps:
• Right-click on your desktop where you want your new shortcut to
appear and choose New > Shortcut
• You will be prompted for location. Paste the line below in there:

"C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /secondary

(Note: If you installed Skype in a non-standard folder, you can use the
'Browse' button to find the Skype.exe file on your hard drive [probably
somewhere in C:\Program Files]. The simply add /secondary at the end
of the line.)
• Click next, name this shortcut 'Skype Secondary' and click 'Finish'

More Help
• If you're having trouble with using Skype, you can refer to these guides:
o Making a call: http://www.skype.com/help/guides/call
o Sending an instant message: http://www.skype.com/help/guides/im
o Making a conference
call: https://support.skype.com/faq/FA2831/How-do-I-start-a-
conference-call

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 o Solving sound
issues: http://www.skype.com/help/guides/soundsetup.html
o Frequently Asked Questions: https://support.skype.com

Skype in Pictures
Normal Skype Window

Notification of a call being received

This is what you will see when somebody calls you.

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Skype interface during a call

Notification of a new message or a missed call

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