Although I haven't tried using Skype yet with my class, it seems to me that it would make a very useful communication tool for inviting in guest speakers or for my students to communicate with other classes around the world. All I need yet is a web cam for my classroom and a microphone and I should be set to go. Below are a few specific ways in which Skype could benefit my class.
Perhaps the most beneficial educational use for Skype would be for my class to have a live conferences with specific guest speakers. Skype would make it easy for my students to have synchronous conversations with experts in any field of study that we are currently covering. For example, in science class we are currently starting a unit in astronomy on the solar system. Through Skype, I would be able to arrange for my students to have an question and answer session with perhaps an astronomer, astronaut, or employee from NASA.
Skype also opens up the door to the possibility of connecting classrooms with classrooms around the world. The picture below shows the current locations of the over 300 class projects that are currently being conducted through the use of Skype as of 12:59 on 4/7/2011. These projects can be filtered according to age, language, and subject or a teacher can start their own project and advertise for correspondence.
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Through the use of Skype my class could connect with other classes to enhance our study of geography of far away places and countries. Currently my class does not include a foreign language component, but there is talk about this being added at some point in the near future. Skype would then also allow my students to have conversations with students in the target language which would add a whole new dimension to foreign language study.
Marzano 9:
1 - Identifying Similarities and Differences
2 - Summarizing and Note-Taking
3 - Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition
7 - Setting Objectives and Providing Feedback
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