by Julie Niles Petersen Cal State Fullerton Literacy Festival - April 21, 2012

Could also use Apple’s iChat, Google Hangouts, or other videoconferencing tools. 

“Handouts”
My blog post:

http://twrctank.com/2012/04/21/using-skype-in-the-classroom My Diigo list of resources: http://www.diigo.com/list/twrctank/skype My Diigo list of videos included in this presentation: http://www.diigo.com/list/twrctank/skype-presentation-video-p 

What Is Skype? (2:17)

http://youtu.be/m1mflr-kQlk 

According to IRA & NCTE, what are the Language Arts?
Before 1996
1. 2. 3. 4.

Reading Writing Speaking Listening

In 1996, these were added
5. Viewing 6. Visually Representing 

Ways to Use Skype in the Classroom
Virtual Author Visits (language arts focus) Skype Read Alouds on World Read Aloud Day

(language arts focus) Global Author’s Chair—students sharing their own writing (language arts focus) Virtual Poetry Slam (language arts focus) Mystery Skype Visits (collaboration, communication, geography & critical thinking focus) Around the World with 80 Schools via Skype (multicultural, global awareness, documentation, visually representing, & technology focus). Some technology examples: Google Maps, Google Earth, back channeling, blogging, data form creation, data collection, and videography. And many more… 

The Good

A face-to-face or virtual

meeting with the author of a book you read is a memorable experience. Because of the personal connection, motivation to read additional books from that author is increased. Listening to authors discuss writing increases student interest in writing. Many authors are willing to Skype for free. Videoconference can be displayed on a big screen.

Julie Niles Petersen & Christopher Paul Curtis @IRA in Atlanta, 2008 

The Bad
Skype might be blocked at

your school Bandwidth issues Can lose connection (but it’s usually easy to reconnect) No live book signings (could try to work that out in advance or get signed bookplates mailed to you) 

An example: Barbara O’Connor Skypes with 4th Graders

Watch this book trailer video by

Jake(0:28): http://vimeo.com/17269219 Watch this video (2:12): http://vimeo.com/18438258 

BEFORE THE VISIT:
 Contact your technology coordinator to see if you can use Skype at

school. If you get the go ahead….  Find an author willing to Skype, set up date, time, length of visit, & decide who will initiate the call

 Morning may be best to avoid high Internet usage  To find authors, see my Diigo list  Study the author’s books, websites, & social media presence (e.g.

Facebook & Twitter accounts)

 Prepare questions for the author & have students practice asking them

loudly & clearly.  Select students to greet the author, introduce the class, ask the questions, videotape the session, & photograph the session  Create a FREE Skype account  On a computer with a webcam, make some practice video calls with friends & then one with the author.  Decide on the best location to conduct the visit, where to put the camera, & where to place the speaker chair (if used) so he or she will be perfectly framed in the video.  Hold a dress rehearsal in the desired location with the equipment you plan to use. 

THE DAY OF THE VISIT:
Several hours before the event, do a practice run. If you want to show the videoconference on a big

screen, make sure the LCD projector is working. (Could have 2 LCD projectors—1 for author’s presentation & one for Skype call.) Make sure computer is hooked up to a good sound system & that it works. Make sure your microphone setup works. Make sure the room is arranged so the author & audience can see the speakers’ face. Make sure the lighting is good. Discuss etiquette & how you will handle technological problems should they arise during the visit. (Perhaps have them bring copies of the author’s books to read) If you are allowing just anyone to speak, have students sit in rows so movement is easier. 

DURING THE VISIT:
Have a tech helper on hand.  While the first student is asking a question,

have the next one waiting “on deck.”
Have them use protocols (e.g. Hello. My name

is ___. My question is ____.)

Could give students a handout with the

questions so they can take notes OR have them use technology to backchannel (e.g. Today’s Meet). 

AFTER THE VISIT:
 Debrief as a group, including rereading the backchannel log.

(Videotape it!)  Document the visit by creating a video slideshow from video clips & photos taken during the visit. Possible tech tools: Animoto and Xtranormal.  Write reflective blog posts OR paper & pencil journal entries about the visit.  Embed images & video in the blog posts.  Share reflective blog posts with a global audience.  Create an audio podcast about the visit.  Give a presentation about the visit to your school or community.  Send the author thank you letters, videos, or audio podcasts.  Watch this video debriefing (2:43) after a Skype call: http://aroundtheworldwith80schools.net/blog/assessme  Watch this Animoto video (3:12) thanking author Kate Messner for her Skype visit: http://animoto.com/play/H31VmsHFwDOAiMUIPt5k0A 

Jobs for Students during Skype Session
Watch this video

(4:34) of students discussing jobs they have during Skype sessions: http://vimeo.com/16180041 

Mystery Skype Visits
Where in the world are they? Collaboration, communication, geography &

critical thinking focus.
See this video (5:49)

http://vimeo.com/25284448 See this backchannel transcript: http://todaysmeet.com/Mysterycall/transcript 

Around the World with 80 Schools via Skype
Virtually & briefly visiting educators, students,

& experts around the globe. Multicultural, global awareness, documentation, visually representing, & technology focus). Some technology examples: Google Maps, Google Earth, back channeling, blogging, data form creation, data collection, and videography.
See this video (5:00)

http://vimeo.com/9917988 

If Only We Had More Time to…
Watch this video (20:50):

http://vimeo.com/10333367 

Community of Educators Using Skype (2:46)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4CVbIInVWo 

In conclusion……
Skype….
….Are you hyped? 

References
My Diigo list of resources:

http://www.diigo.com/list/twrctank/skype My Diigo list of videos included in this presentation: http://www.diigo.com/list/twrctank/skype-presenta