Skype in the Classroom - Connecting "Across the Pond"

"Picture a large can. Just before you kick it, your toe pops out of the front of your shoe to "peek" at the can. Can = Kansas. Toe + peek = Topeka. The capital city and state is Topeka, Kansas!" This Mnemonic device paired with a hand drawn picture was used to help instruct students in the United Kingdom who were studying the states and capitals of the USA.  (Here is the list of mnemonic states & capitals we used from mrsjonesroom.com)

Right before the holiday break, my grade 4 classroom connected via Skype with Mrs. Stone's class across "the Pond" just outside London, England. Each class was placed in three groups. Using 2 iPads and a laptop, the classes were able to connect simultaneously through Skype (we used 3 different accounts).  Each student in my class shared a state and capital with their overseas counterparts.  Visuals that further depicted the statement were displayed.  Mrs. Stone's students took notes and asked questions about the state and capital.

This month the learning/sharing will be reversed as Mrs. Stone's American students in the UK will teach the my students the remaining states & capitals using the same format.

A third connection is planned where the students in the UK will shared geographical information about Great Britain such as borders, climate, bodies of water, resources, landforms, major cities, famous people, attractions and animals found in nature.

Using video conferencing tools in our schools with programs such as Skype or Google Hangouts changes the way our students learn and helps them become Global Learners.

(pictures edited using befunky.com underpainting)

Skype in the Classroom - Sometimes it IS about the Tool!

Being home sick is no longer an excuse to miss school!  Well, okay, it really is.  However, it doesn't mean you have to totally miss out with what is going on in your classroom.  With the right tool you can attend school even from home!

Student skyping from iPad while Ranger Skypes Class

Today, the fourth grade classes at our school participated in a skype call with Yellowstone National Park Ranger, Beth Taylor.  This pre-arranged call coincided with our study of another national park, Yosemite through the story, Letters Home from Yosemite, by Lisa Halvorsen.

For weeks the anticipation of speaking to a real park ranger had been building.  One of my students, a nature and animal lover, asked me almost daily if 'today was the day'.  Well, today was the day, and as it turned out the nature and animal lover was unable to attend school due to an illness.

Her genuine disappointment was evident through her mother's email as she shared her daughter's absence.  This program was something I knew this young lady would love.  So, I contacted her mom and suggested she procure a skype account so that we could skype her daughter at the same time we would be skyping with Ranger Taylor.  (We used two different skype accounts.)

As soon as my colleague received the call from the park ranger, I quickly skyped my student using an iPad.  She answered the call and was ready to go.  I placed the iPad near the laptop that was being used to communicate with the ranger.  Now as all the other students were watching the call projected on the screen at the front of the room, my absent student watched from inside her home. Talk about a front row seat!

Sometimes it is the tool!  Watching the excitement on my pupil's face when she first saw the Ranger was priceless.  (Watching the excitement on the 70+ others in the room was also priceless.)  Without Skype accessing this primary source would not have been available to her.   Just think of a child who is at home for one reason or another.  How could Skype be used to include that student in your daily lessons.  This really is one tool that can be used in so many ways to enhance learning! 

How have you used Skype to enhance the learning of your students?

Using Google Hangout in Education! Part 1

By this time last year I had my summer PD all planned out. So far, I hadn't really planned anything for these first 2 weeks off from school, and to my delight a professional development opportunity arose before my very eyes.

Every other Thursday night I meet on Twitter with a group of people interested in Elementary Science. The creator and moderator of that chat, Bill Krakower (@wkrakower) of New Jersey, suggested that we try to conduct the chat via 'Google Hangout'. I have heard Bill, as well as some other folks, referring to this 'Hangout' a lot lately, and decided I would LOVE to be involved.

What is a Google Hangout? Think Skype on steroids! Google Hangout is a feature of Google+ which allows up to 10 people to video conference at one time. Within the Hangout there are many extra great features as well. These include Screen Sharing, Google Doc sharing, Watching the same Youtube Video together, a Sketchpad and more. These features promote collaboration which is just perfect for educators, students and administrators!

The other night there were 7 of us participating in the 'Hangout'. It was fun playing around with the different features (see below!). We didn't talk much science, but we were able to come up with a plan to get our classrooms connected through Google Hangout in October. A 'real-time' document outlining how we will use it in the fall was created in the Hangout. Many of the other features were examined as well. It was decided that in October each class will poll the other classes regarding their 'favorites' (ice cream, subject, color, etc.) then get back together at a later date for another 'Hangout' to analyze and share our graphs.

@cybraryman1 et al testing the 'Special Effects' during a Hang Out!

This exploration of Google Hangout and the collaboration that happened during the evening will certainly be filed under "Professional Development". My Twitter PLN has afforded me the opportunity to investigate a new tool in a comfortable, safe setting with the intention of future collaborative efforts. This is educational collegiality at its finest!

Thank you to @wkrakower, @plnaugle, @missbamberger, @cybraryman1, @ICETeacherSara & @dandanscienc for your patience and encouragement!

Feel free to share any of your experiences with Google Hangout in the Comment Section below!

Upcoming Post: Using Google Hangout in Education Part 2 - Ways to Incorporate Hangout into the Curriculum

Skype in the Classroom Continues!

How do you keep 81 fourth-grade students engaged for over an hour?   The answer is simple: Skype with a group of soldiers overseas in Afghanistan! That's exactly what we did today! At approximately 0900 we received a call via Skype from Petty Officer Second Class Christine Henault. She and 4 other soldiers who are part of the NTM-A spent some time describing their days in Afghanistan to our three (3) fourth grade classes. 

Back in November of 2011 our class was writing 'Thank You' letters to our veterans, and one of my students wrote to Miss Henault (who is my neighbor's sister).  After that, we sent her a package at Christmas time.  When she came home on leave at the end of March she made a surprise visit to my class.  At that time she described her training and how she ended up in Afghanistan.  Her presentation included a Powerpoint, sharing artifacts and doing some calisthenics with the group.  They loved it and HER!  As she left, I asked if she might be interested in skyping with the class.

And so, we planned the call. During the Skype call Christine introduced her fellow soldiers, some were Army, some Navy.  The students were introduced to Major Shelly Frank (USAF), Technical Sergeant Alysia Parsons USAF, Master Sergeant Conrad Hernandez, USAF, Technical Sergeant Jason Girvin, USAF, and Sergeant First Class Miguel Soriano, USA.  The soldiers took turns speaking to the students about their jobs in Afghanistan, their hometowns and life in overseas.  They fielded questions from the 10 year olds who asked: "What do you miss most about the USA?", "What kinds of food do Afghan people eat?" "Can you compare the weather of Afghanistan to your hometown?" "What do the schools look like?" "What kinds of missions have you gone on?" and many more.  The students applauded and pumped their fists in a "Power to the Team" (a gesture that Miss Henault had taught them when she visited.) 

The soldiers were wonderful with these kids.  They explained things appropriately and succinctly.  Some of them are getting ready to leave Afghanistan while some are newly appointed. Some have been all over the world and for some it was their first assignment away.  Some were there in charge of the construction crews and some were part of the Computer Operations.

One thing the soldiers all had in common was that they left families back home that they miss dearly, and yet they were all upbeat and positive and excited about the work they are doing because they know they are helping  the Afghan people while serving their country at the same time.  

My gut feeling is that the Soldiers truly enjoyed their visit to our school as much as the students enjoyed seeing and listening to them.  However, I'm not sure the students fully understand or appreciate the magnanimity of the call.  But one thing is certain, this experience will remain in their memories for a lifetime. Speaking with these brave men and women and learning about life in the Military will surely be remembered for years to come.

(One side note:  I am so proud of the 4th grade students for their thoughtful questions, their rapt attention and their excellent behavior.  It is tough to keep the attention of children that age and the students were just so good!)

Do you see the value of Skype in Schools?  How have you used it?

RESOURCES:


Skype in Schools: Wikispace outline ways to use Skype.

Projects on Skype in the Classroom: from Skype, a place to find or list your projects. 

Skype Resources: A collection of sites compiled by Cybrary Man (Jerry Blumengarten)

Skype in the Classroom...For Real!

"Are we skyping today?" 

"Can we skype this afternoon?"

These are the questions my eager 4th graders ask each day.  You see, they are getting quite comfortable using this web 2.0 tool.  


Over the past several months we have connected with students in Maine, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Utah, California, a local meteorologist and even the classroom down the hallway.  


If you look up the word "Skype" or "skyping" in the dictionary, you will not find it.  However, it has become one of those 'new' verbs that have been identified with the 21st century (like "google it" and "text me").  Skype has taken the pen pal idea and made it into 'instant pals!"

Skype was founded in 2003, but has recently begun to make its way into our classrooms.  Using Skype one can video-conference with another user (for free). 

This year Social Studies has come to life via Skype.  Kim Powell, a fourth grade teacher whom I met via Twitter,  asked if I was interested in doing a Mystery STATE Skype with her classroom.  Check out her Glog here!

The students researched clues that would help identify our state to help the other students guess our location.  Students took turns sharing clues about bordering states, bodies of water, climate, geography, resources, famous people, animals and more. After that we started 'skyping' other classrooms of teachers I connected with through Twitter.  It was a hit!


Along with using a Social Studies book the students were learning first hand about different states, schools and more.  It became the highlight of our days! 

It has opened up doors and windows for my students that they would have been only able to 'read' about. 

For days after our skype calls the kids would be abuzz about what they had learned from each mystery class.  Many students researched the Mystery State further (without being prompted!).  


Skype in the Classroom is a site that allows teachers to connect.  You can collaborate or post project suggestions.  It's a great way to get started.  

Fourth Grade teachers may sign up for Mystery Skype through our #4thchat Wiki.

Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano (Langwitches) created this Assessment tool to use with skype.  As she says in her blog, "A skype call is a learning call".  The forms which she has designed allows students to prepare for the call and then share what has been learned. 

Check out this Family Feud between 2 classrooms using Skype!


Skype Feud from Kelly Moore on Vimeo.

Would love to Skype with other classrooms next year...math, science, ELA, the possibilities are endless.  Please contact me if you are interested!    I can't wait to start early!!!

How have you used Skype in the classroom - Share below!