Digital Communication in the Classroom Blogs, FaceTime and Skype….O, My! A. Danner

Blogs Allows students the opportunity to curate news, links and materials of interest to them They create a space that reflects their interest Student driven content Allows for online collaboration Personal reflections Potential for peer feedback They publish and create to either the entire web or a certain group of people Allows for increase safety Ex. Google Blogger allows for publication under a pseudonym

Google Blogger You and the students have access already FOR FREE! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTToERnTKB4 Here’s your blog!

Facetime Built directly into the iPad Utilizes the iPad’s camera and contact list Just select a contact from your list Select FaceTime

Skype Video about using Skype in the classroom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKdVlqH2Hi4 Video about using Skype in the classroom

Skype Allows for free Skype-Skype video and audio calls Group conference calls of up to 25 people Allows for video recording Student accountability File sharing Share files, videos and photos Screen sharing (show the person you’re talking to your computer screen)

Skype Skype can be utilized in all content areas Foreign Language Art Students could speak to native speakers, visit different countries and experience the culture (cooking, buildings and scenery) Art Visit a gallery virtually, exhibit their own art work virtually or even talk about a piece of art with another person

Skype Science Explore and present the ecosystem of another area, even within the U.S., and present their findings to an actual student living in that area; watch a scientist perform an actual experiment or interview one Math Speak to a local engineer about angles, ask a police officer how their radar guns work for calculating speed and acceleration

Skype Social Studies Gym Visit the Alamo! (or another historic landmark) Watch a re-enactment of Gettysburg, the signing of the Declaration or even the start of Louis and Clark’s Expedition Have a war veteran visit your classroom Gym Have an athletic trainer, a professional athlete or even a coach visit your classroom Students teaching others how to play a sport or use proper stance in a baseball swing

Skype Language Arts Business Have the author of the book you just read come and speak to your class, class book read alouds Business Talk to a local businessman or woman Imagine how awesome it would be to have Jim Irsay (who has a strong passion for education) visit your class and answer business questions

Skype Conference Calls Student Participation Extra student time Students can conference with the teacher in groups or just with each other Student Participation Allows chronically ill students to still be in class for the day and get important content Extra student time Test review, homework help

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Use the camera on your iPad to take a quick photo! Remember you might have to talk to students so watch out for stuff like “freak of nature”

Skype Add a contact by either searching for them by name or email address

Skype Practice Find a partner in the room Give them a call! Add them to your contact list Leave the room Give them a call! Discuss any additional ideas you have about how you could use Skype in the classroom Be sure to add other teachers in the room as well! Feel free to put any ideas or thoughts on Today’s Meet http://todaysmeet.com/eLearning

Extra Resources Skype in the Classroom*** Uses of Skype in the Class Register here to participate and connect with other teachers around the world!!! Uses of Skype in the Class http://edublogs.org/10-ways-to-use-your-edublog-to-teach/ Complete Guide to Skype http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/06/complete-guide-to-use-of-skype-in.html 50 Awesome Uses for Skype in the classroom Creative and Varied Activities http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-classroom/ AWESOME blog entry with help on how to connect with other teachers and classrooms online http://jasonweaver.weebly.com/skype-in-the-classroom.html Skype online help http://www.skype.com/en/features/