Skype

= Communication Tool: = Group Members: Bianca and Hollie

Brief introduction of the tool
==Skype is a communication tool that is used to speak with people through the internet. It is a tool that allows video feedback so that you can see the person that you are speaking with. It allows conferencing with more than one person at a time, but does not allow video conferencing with more that two people.==

(Include 3E’s)
 * ===Efficient- This is a fast way to communicate with someone that you may be working on a project or assignment with and need to get a hold of quickly.===
 * ===Effective- This is a tool that allows you to directly hear what the person is saying and also see an object that they are wanting to share with you.===
 * ===Enhancing- This tool creates a safe environment for students to commnicate with each other and directly connect thoughts and ideas or objects that are associated with what they are working on.===


 * ===The tool will not work if someone is not connected to the internet.===
 * ===The tool may offer some lagging if internet is malfunctioning.===
 * ===Skype could potential offers problems with people talking to you that you may not want to be connected with if you are unsure about how to block certain people.===

Application of the tool in your subject area
Skype has many different ways that can be used in the classroom. One way Skype can be used in the classroom is connecting two different classrooms. This could be classes from the same school, classes from the same county, or classes from across the world. Students can interact with each other and present information or ask questions to other students. Teacher would connect with the other classroom and then sit back and monitor the class while they are interacting. Teachers can make sure their students are prepared to make the call.

Find a tutorial on YouTube
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//List of key features showed in the YouTube video://
The first step that was shown was how easy it is to log into Skype. He then demonstrated how to make a phone call by making sure that the person you want to talk to is online. To start a phone call, you select the person's name and hit the phone in te corner. Once the person picks up the "phone" he demonstrated that you move the video of yourself around. He demonstrated how you can add the video so you can see the person you are speaking with. He demonstrated how to end the phone call by hitting the red phone in the corner of the screen.

Useful Resources
[] This is a forum written by teachers who explain different ways they have used skype or ways they are going to use skype in the classroom. This would be a great source for different ideas about skyping. [] This is a wiki that gives you the link to download the software. This wiki also gives you a link to find other educators that use skype. Along with these links, there is a list of different ways skype can be used in education. [] This is a blog that gives instructions for incorporating skype in the classroom. This gives a lot of information about the basics of using skype in the classroom including restrictions, classroom managment, and management issues.