Thing 15: Skype

Skype is a great tool! My family and I have used Skype when we want to talk with family in Mexico. Usually we just talk on the phone, but we also like to see each other and Skype allows us to do this. Also I have seen Skype used in the schools. When I was in high school we Skyped with others students who were also in a Sacred Heart school in Louisiana and in other states.

This past summer I was able to see how Skype can be used in the classroom to enhance instruction. I worked in a summer camp with several classes, including a Spanish class. The teacher used Skype to have her lower school and middle school students talk and see native Spanish speakers who live in Guadalajara, Mexico and London. The students loved seeing the other children and were amazed by their Spanish skills. The native speakers showed our students several items and toys, which made the experience a favorite of the students.

While looking through the resources for this "thing," I found several uses for Skype that I think would be great to use. One of them is to use Skype to communicate with students who are sick and unable to attend the classroom. A teacher learned that a student had leukemia, so used Skype to stay in contact with the student. I have also heard about the ePals Global Community, which I think I would like to use in the future. As students see and talk with each other, they can learn so much from each other's lives and experiences.

I have seen the benefits of using Skype, and I know that it is a great tool to use in everyday life and in the classroom.