Using Synchronous Tools (Skype) in the World Languages Classroom

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OverviewInstructionsResourcesActivity Management

Skype is a FREE VoIP technology (Voice over Internet Protocol) which can be used to make audio and video phone calls via Internet.

Units

 Audio Tools, Collaborative Tools, Video Tools

Duration

 1 hour

Standards

 Communication, Communities, Comparisons, Connections, Cultures

LEVEL

 Advanced, Beginner, Intermediate, Novice

WEBSITE

 Visit Skype Website

OS

 PC or Mac

PREREQUISITES

  • Basic use of Internet
  • How to set up an account on line
  • How to hook up a microphone on a computer

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, users will be able to:
  • Explain Skype’s potential use for teaching listening and speaking, collaborating and connecting.
  • Sign up and create their own Skype account.
  • Determine what kind of tasks would be appropriate for their language students.
  • Explain how to design Skype tasks focused on student collaboration.
  • Narrate how to design Skype tasks focused on connecting students to the world beyond the classroom.
  • Describe how they will assess students’ learning progress.
  • Talk about an example of one activity using Skype in alignment with the standards for language learning.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Step-By-Step Instructions

  1. Go to http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/ (Windows users)  http://www.skype.com/download/skype/macosx/ (Mac users) and click Download.
    download skype.
  2. Click Skype to open.
  3. To sign up, click Don’t have a Skype Name?
    Click Don't have a Skype Name?
  4. Type in the information to create your account and click Create.
    Type in the information to create your account and click Create.
    Now you are logged into Skype.  You can see your Skype name (in this example, novastartalk).
    You can see your skype name.
  5. Go to Account tab and click My Profile.
    Go to Account tab and click My Profile.
  6. Type in the the required information.   Full Name will be the one which appears as your profile name.
    Click Change to profile image.
    Type in the information to create your account and click change.
  7. Click the image you would like to use and click Open.
    Select images and click Open.
  8. Now you can see the image uploaded as your profile picture. Click Apply.
    Click Apply.
  9. Click your name (in this example, NOVASTARTALK).
    Click your name.
  10. You can type in your profile message in the box.   To change your status, click triangle next to your name. You can type in your profile message in the box. To change your status, click here.
  11. Choose one of the options ( in this example, Invisible is chosen).
    Choose one of the options ( in this example, Invisible is chosen).
  12. Now you can see your status has been changed to Invisible.
    Now you can see your status has been changed to Invisible (people on line cannot see that you are on Skype).
  13. To be able to communicate with somebody, you need to know their Skype name or their e-mail address.
    Go to Contacts tab and Click Add a Contact.
    To be able to communicate somebody, you need to know their Skype name or their e-mail address. Go to Contacts tab and Click Add a Contact.
  14. Type in the Skype Name of the person you would like to communicate and click Search.
    Type in the skype name of the person you would like to communicate and click Search.
  15. Click Skype Name in the box and Add Contact.
    and click Add Contact.
  16. Skype will request tshigehisa to allow you to communicate on line.  Click OK.
    Cllick OK.
  17. To see the contact, click the traiangle icon.  To see your contact, click triangle.
  18. You can see your contacts’ Skype Name here.  To start communicating, click Skype Name (in this example, tshigehisa).
    You can see your contacts Skype Name.
  19. To talk to this person, click Call button.
    Click Call to get in touch with tshigehisa.
  20. To write text, type in the box.
    to write text, type in here.

Additional Resources and Works Cited

Activity Management

  1. Go to 50 Awesome Ways to Use Skype in the Classroom http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-classroom/ to explore the usage examples of Skype.
  2. List the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of the Skype examples for languages class use.
  3. Describe what kind of tasks would be appropriate for your students using Skype.
  4. Explain how to design Skype tasks for your students focused on student collaboration.
  5. Describe how you can connect your students to the world beyond the classroom by using Skype.
  6. Explain how your students’ performance will be assessed.
  7. Develop an example of one activity for your daily lesson plan using Skype.
  8. Write goals and objectives for your activity.  Identify the task your students will be performing.
  9. List standards addressed in your activity and rational.
  10. Describe how students will be collaborating and connecting.

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