When faced with the impossible (that is, aligning four busy timetables to find some free time to work on a group assessment) I was pleasantly surprised this week by how helpful Skype can be. My group and I were able to have a Skype conference, free, from the comfort of our own homes, which allowed us to discuss the assessment. It makes group work manageable, and we were able to have a 4-person voice call, which was easy for everyone to use and access, and so much more effective than sending multiple emails around or trying to do this on chat. It allows communication to be more authentic, as you can hear everyone’s tone, and immediately respond to comments, which decreases miscommunication and confusion.
The possibilities for using Skype within the classroom are immense! After this successful conversation, I can now envisage collaborative projects being done with classes of students from around the world. Students can use Skype to connect with people who would otherwise be literally out of reach.
Skype actually has a function on its website dedicated to using sykpe in the classroom. Teachers or students can put up a public post about a project they are starting or using to publish it to others, so that they can connect with others. I found this teacher in Houston, USA looking for a class to form a penpal relationship with her fifth grade class. What a great opportunity!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78011127@N00/3509479803
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