How to use Skype in your school

For our last assignment I was able to install Skype and video-chat with a few of my classmates online. It was really fun!  Through my readings I was able to get some fun ideas on how to use Skype in the library and classroom.  Many of these ideas came from the article 50 Ways to Skype your Classroom by Jillian Terry with the website TEACHING DEGREE.  

Skyping an author seemed to be my favorite.  This is where an author comes into the classroom via Skype and the author gets to speak to the students and the students get to ask questions.  With authors being so busy and schools not having very much money, this seemed like a wonderful solution to both problems.  It allows the authors to talk to the students within the comforts of their home or office and the author visit fee could potentially be much less.  This could be a win-win situation for both parties. 

Another idea that appealed to me was students video chatting with students located in other communities, states, and areas around the world.  A teacher could incorporate many language art requirements in writing letters and such through pen pals and include a couple of visits on Skype as well. 

I also liked the idea where students could present their projects not only to their classmates, but to a parent on-line.  I wonder if this would give an added incentive for the students to do better and give them and chance to 'shine' and let the parents know what wonderful things are going on in the classroom.  

There were many other ideas, yet I feel that seeing and visiting with other people in the same room is much more preferable than video chatting. If video chatting was the only way to make something happen, then Skype is definitely a wonderful alternative.

As a librarian I could introduce these and other ideas to the faculty and make sure the school community had the technology to make it happen.  I view a librarian’s job as one who encourages, directs, and guides the other faculty members to know of and explore the many possible media and technical opportunities available to them.