viaSkypeskype怎么读

HOWTOUSESKYPEINTHECLASSROOM(ACOLLECTIONOFTIPSANDEXAMPLESTOIMPLEMENTVIDEOCONFERENCING)CreativePursuits:IntegratingTechnologyInto21stCenturyClassroomsOctober8,2009WorkshopPresenter:KayleenWiddifieldkwiddifield@langleyschool.
orgWhatisavideoconferenceWhatisSkypeHowdoIuseSkypeintheclassroomWillstudentsbenefitfromusingSkypeHowwillteachersbenefitfromusingSkypeInternetconnectivityineducationalsettingsprovidesopportunitiesforinteractiveexchangeandcollaborationbetweenstudentslivingonothersidesoftownortheothersideoftheplanet.
Thesesynchronous,real‐timediscussionsusingfreesoftwarelike"Skype"cantangiblyexpandthewallsofthetraditionalclassroomandengagestudentstowrite,share,andcommunicatewithanauthenticaudienceinaccessiblejustafewyearsago.
Educatorsinterestedinhelpingmotivatestudentstodevelopbothtraditionalaswellastwenty‐firstcenturyliteracyskillsintheclassroomcanandshoulduseaudioconferencingtechnologieslikeSkypetoliterallyplugtheirstudentsintocollaborativeexchangeswithglobalpartnersonavarietyofprojects.
(WesleyA.
Fryerhttp://www.
wtvi.
com/TEKS/05_06_articles/skype‐in‐the‐classroom.
html,9/30/09)WhatisSkypeSkype(www.
skype.
com)isasoftwareprogramusingvoiceoverIP,orVoIP,technology.
IPstandsfor"internetprotocol.
"Crossplatform,multi‐lingual,andfreetobothdownloadanduse,Skypesoftwarepermitsuserstomakehigh‐qualityaudio"phonecalls"overtheInternet.
Skypecanbereadilydownloadedandinstalledonanycomputeriftheuserhas"administrative"accesstoinstallnewprograms.
Ifyourteacherloginaccountatschooldoesnothavetheseaccessprivileges,askyourcampusnetworkadministratortoinstalltheprogramforyou.
TeachersmaywanttodownloadandtrySkypefirstfromhome,andthentryitatschool.
ThesloganofSkypeis"thewholeworldcantalkforfree.
"Thesubjectofthissloganincludesthestudentsinyourclassroom!
(WesleyA.
Fryerhttp://www.
wtvi.
com/TEKS/05_06_articles/skype‐in‐the‐classroom.
html,9/30/09)GETTINGSTARTEDWITHSKYPE(AdaptedfromWesleyA.
Fryerhttp://www.
wtvi.
com/TEKS/05_06_articles/skype‐in‐the‐classroom.
html,9/30/09)Afterdeterminingthemicrophone/audioinputoptiontobeusedwithSkype,downloadandinstallSkypesoftware(www.
skype.
com)onacomputerandlaunchtheprogramtogetstarted.
Usersareinitiallypresentedwithaloginscreenandanoptiontocreateauseraccount.
RegisterforafreeSkypeaccountusingyouremailaddressandname.
Afteryouraccountiscreated,writedownyourusernameandpassword,andkeepthisinformationinasafe,secureplacelikeyourwallet.
Keepallyourusernamesandpasswordssecretandsafe!
InadditiontopermittingVoIPconversations,SkypefunctionsasaninstantmessagingsoftwareprogramlikeMSNMessenger,AOLInstantMessenger,orYahooMessenger.
Likeeachoneofthoseinstantmessagingprograms,Skypeonlyconnectstootherusersrunningthesameprogram(Skype)forinstantmessagingpurposes.
YoucannotpresentlyuseSkypetoinstantmessageMSN,AIM,orYahoousers.
ThebestwaytostartusingSkypeistogetafriendorfamilymembertoalsoinstallthesoftwareandsetupauseraccount.
Ona"real"phoneorviaemail,exchangeSkypeusernames.
TheninSkype,clicktheADDbuttontoentertheusernameandrealnameofyouracquaintance.
Aninstantmessagewillbesenttoyourprospective"Skypebuddy,"askingthemtogivepermissionforyoutoaddthemtoyourbuddylist.
Oncepermissionisgranted(bybothparties)youwillbeabletoseewhenyourbuddyisonlinewiththeSkypeprogramrunning,andreadytotalkovertheInternet.
TomakeaSkype"phonecall,"clickontheCONTACTStabinSkypeandclickonceonacontact'sentry.
ClickthelargegreenphoneiconatthebottomoftheSkypewindowtoplaceanInternetphonecalltothatperson.
Youwillheararingingsound(bydefault),andoncetheotherpersonclicksto"answer"thecall,youcanbegintalking!
50AwesomeWaystoUseSkypeintheClassroom30June2009|http://www.
teachingdegree.
org/2009/06/30/50‐awesome‐ways‐to‐use‐skype‐in‐the‐classroom/Skypeisafreeandeasywayforteacherstoopenuptheirclassroomandtheirstudentstoaworldwaybeyondtheircampus.
WithSkype,studentscanlearnfromotherstudents,connectwithothercultures,andexpandtheirknowledgeinamazingways.
TeachersandparentscanalsobenefitfromSkypeintheclassroom.
ReadbelowtolearnhowyoucantakeadvantageofthepowerofSkypeinyourclassroom.
DearCreativePursuitsParticipants,Pleaseremembertogivemeyouremailaddress.
Iwillemailyouthisdocumentsothehyperlinkswillworkforyou!
Therearesomanygreatideashere!
Thanks,KayleenWiddifieldOctober2009PromotingEducationThesegreatideasareallaboutteachingstudentsindynamicways.
1.
SeeMe,HearMe:SkypeintheClassroom.
ReadhowthesestudentshadtheopportunitytochatwithanauthorofthebooktheystudiedviaSkype.
2.
VideoconferencingintheClassroomwithSkype.
Thisteacherusedthemovie"HoopDreams"tohelpteachaboutsocialinequality,thenwasabletogettheexecutiveproducerofthemovie,GordonQuinn,toparticipateinaSkypesessionwithherclass.
3.
TheManyRolesofSkypeintheClassroom.
Theseamazing7thgradersusedSkypeasapartoftheirhistoryprojectthatresultedintheircollaborationwiththecuratoroftheNationalMuseuminCanada.
4.
Fieldtrips.
Ifstudentsaren'tabletoparticipateinafieldtripduetofactorssuchasbudgetaryordistanceconstraints,useSkypetobringthefieldtripintotheclassroom.
5.
UsingSkypeinthelanguagesclassroom.
FindouthowthisteacherusesSkypetohelpherstudentsstudyforeignlanguagesfromnativespeakers.
6.
SkypinginMikeArtell‐Illustrator&Author.
Thisinspirationallessonhasanillustratorworkingdirectlywith6thgraderstoworkontheartofillustratingandstorycreation.
7.
Afterschoolhelp.
UseSkypeasatooltoprovideafterschoolhelptostudentsneedingextraattention.
Tutors,teachers,orlibrarianscanbeavailableatsettimesintheafternoonsforstudentaccess.
8.
"Noteducationasusual,"withSkypeandauthorCoryDoctorow.
ThisclasswaspracticinghowtoconvincetheschoolboardtoallowacontroversialbooktobetaughtintheirschoolandhadtheopportunitytoSkypewiththeauthorofthebooktohelppromotetheircase.
9.
Interviews.
Whetheryouhavestudentsconductinginterviewsoryourclassisinterviewed,Skypefacilitatestheinterviewprocess.
Individualstudentscaninterviewotherteachersorschoolstaff,sendingtheSkypefeedtotheclassroomforalltowatch.
10.
Guestlecturers.
HaveguestlecturerscometoyourclassroomviaSkype.
PromotingCommunityUsingSkypeintheclassroomcanpromotecommunitieswithinaschoolorglobally.
11.
Inclusion—helpingaclassmatejointheclassroomfromhome.
Thisblogpostexplainshowa4thgradeclassusedSkypetohelpaclassmatewithleukemiabecomeapartoftheclassroomfromherhome.
12.
Connectspecialneedsstudents.
StudentswhomayhavetobeoutoftheclassroomduetospecialneedsorIEPrequirementsdon'thavetomissanyspecialeventsintheclassroomwithSkype.
13.
Bluetonguelizard,vegemiteandcricket.
Whatthe….
ThisAustralianteacherdescribesherclass'experienceconnectingwithaKoreanclassviaSkype.
14.
Foreignculturelessons.
Skypeallowsstudentstoseefirsthandwhatpeople'shomes,schools,clothing,weather,andmorelookslike.
Ifafestivaltakesplace,Skypecanbringittoyourclassroomtoo.
15.
Connectwithfamiliesfromaroundtheworld.
FormfriendshipsthatcaneasilybridgedistancegapswithSkype.
16.
SkypeCallsfore‐TwinninginL2.
FindouthowthisteacherbroughttwoclassestogetherthathadbeenTwitteringallsemesterwhentheyfinallygottomeet"face‐to‐face"withSkype.
17.
BestDayEver!
.
ThisteacherdescribesthreeSkypecallsherclasshadinoneday–themostexcitingbeingwithaclassinadifferenttimezonewithwhomherstudentshadbeencollaboratingonaprojectthroughGoogledocs.
WithSkype,thestudentsgottoworkatthesametimeandactuallyseeeachother,too.
18.
Presentaperformance.
Whetheryourclassputsonaplay,demonstratesascienceexperiment,orpresentstheresultsofaclassproject,sharethefruitsoftheirworkswithotherclasses,parents,orotherinterestedpeople.
19.
Sharefieldtripswithothers.
Ifyourclassgoesoutforafieldtrip,seeaboutconnectingwithparentsorotherclassestoshareyourclasses'experience.
20.
'SlumdogMillionaire'inspirationusesSkypetohelpkidsinIndialearn.
FindouthowSkypeisconnectinggranniesintheUKwithchildreninIndiaforbothaculturalconnectionandaneducationalbenefit.
SkypeIdeasforTeachersandParentsTeachersandparentscanbenefitfromSkypeintheclassroom,too.
21.
Professionaldevelopment.
TeacherscanuseSkypetoaccessprofessionaldevelopmentopportunities,suchaswatchingconferencepresentations.
22.
Sharestudents'workwithparents.
Letparentsgetafirst‐handlookatwhattheirchildrenaredoingwithSkype.
23.
Conferencewithparents.
Whetheraparenthastomissaregularconferenceoraconcerncomesupthatrequiresspeakingwithaparent,Skypecanprovideanopportunitytoconnectwithaparentthatmaynototherwisebeavailableforaconference.
24.
InnovativeteacherusesSkypeandWikistoinvolveparents.
SeehowthisteacherhelpedshareinformationwithparentsusingSkypeandthePBSprogram,GrowingUpOnline.
25.
Collaboratewithotherteachers.
WhosaysSkypehastobefunjustforthekidsWithSkype,teacherscancollaborateonideas,projects,andmore.
26.
Sharetravelexperiences.
Ifyouwillbetravelingduringtheschoolyear,arrangeforyoursubstitutetoconnectwithyouviaSkypeandyoucansharetheexperiencewithyourclass.
27.
Receiveteachingfeedback.
HaveanexperiencedormentorteacherwatchyouteachviaSkypeandreceivevaluablefeedback.
28.
Beavailabletostudents.
Ifyourschoolissuddenlyclosedforawhileorifyouwanttosetupconferencehoursforstudents,useSkypetoallowstudentstocontactyou.
29.
Tutorformerstudents.
Ifastudenthasmovedawayoryouwanttoofferaccreditedonlinedegreesorjustmovedupfromyourclass,youcanbeavailablefortutoring(forfreeorforafee)viaSkype.
30.
Bringbusyparentsintotheclassroom.
AbusyparentwhohasknowledgetosharewiththeclassroommaybemorelikelytobeabletomakethetimeforapresentationifsheorhecandosowithSkyperatherthanhavingtoleaveworkandcometotheschool.
ResourcesforGettingStartedandUsingSkypeFindouthowyoucantakeadvantageofSkypewiththeadvicebelow.
31.
UsingSkypeintheClassroom(orjustlearninghowtouseit!
).
ThisteacherprovidesthebasicstogetSkypesetupwithyourclass.
32.
SkypeintheClassroom.
ThisarticleoffershelponwaystosetupSkype,tipsforfindingotherteachersonSkype,technicalobstacles,andmore.
33.
SkypeTutorialsforTeachers,Authors,Librarians.
FindahandfulofvideoandtexttutorialsheretogetyougoingwithSkype.
34.
ClassroomCollaborationwithSkype.
ThisprimeroffershelpwithusingSkype,connectingwithothers,andideasforusingitintheclassroom.
35.
eduwikius–SKYPE.
ThiswikicontainsplentyofinformationaboutusingSkypeintheclassroomandalsoprovideslinkstoadditionalresources.
36.
ASkypefromtheclassroom.
Findinformationonvideoconferencingingeneral,theprosandconsofusingSkype,schoolprojectideas,andmorehere.
37.
Usingskypeintheclassroom.
Learnfromthisteacher'sexperienceasshedescribesusingSkypeandhowtobestprepareyourclassandyourselfforagreateducationalopportunity.
38.
SkypeisaValuableEducationalTool.
ThispodcastexplainswhyteachersshoulduseSkypeandputssomenastyrumorsaboutSkypetorest.
39.
UsingSkypeinschools–sometips.
Readthesehelpfultips,includingsuggestionsonusingSkypeusernamesatschoolandhome.
40.
Skype:TalktoAnyone,AnywhereforFree.
Watchthis"techtorial"orprintthetextversiontolearnthebasicsofSkype.
FindingOthersUsingSkypeHereareafewwaystoconnectwithothersusingSkypeinclassroomsandtopromoteeducation.
41.
ePALS.
Signupforafreeaccounthere,thenfindotherteachersandclassesaroundtheglobeusingSkype.
42.
SkypeanAuthorIntoYourLibraryorClassroom.
ThissitewillconnectschoolswithauthorsthroughSkype.
Shortsessionsarefree,whilelongersessionsaresubjecttoafeesetbyeachauthor.
43.
SkypeinSchools.
ListyourselforfindothersinthisdirectoryjustforeducatorsseekingSkypecollaboration.
44.
SkypeintheClassroom–TheEduSkypersPhonebook.
ScrollthroughthesecommentstofindotherteachersfromaroundtheworldlookingtoconnectthroughSkype.
Themostrecentareattheveryendofthelist.
45.
GlobalSchoolNet.
Thisorganizationworkstoconnectteachersandstudentsaroundtheworldthroughforensicscienceprograms.
Browsetofindsomethingofinterestorstartyourownproject.
46.
TakingITGlobal.
Anotherproject‐basedorganization,thisonefocusesonyouthlookingtomakepositiveglobalchanges.
47.
AroundtheWorldwith80Schools.
ThisteacherishopingtoconnectschoolsaroundtheworldthroughshortSkypesessions.
48.
SkypeintheClassroom.
JointhiscommunitytofindotherteachersseekingSkypeconnections.
49.
GoingGlobal–SchoolSkypeAuthorVisits.
LindaLoweryandRichardKeep,children'sbookauthorsandillustrators,areavailableforSkypeinterviewsforafee.
50.
Mixxer.
ThisgrouphelpsconnectlanguagelearnersseekingpartnerstopracticetheirlanguageskillsviaSkype.
TeachingExample#1TheManyRolesofSkypeintheClassroomSunday,February15th2009byNeilStephensoncloseAuthor:NeilStephensonName:NeilStephensonEmail:neil.
s@calgaryscienceschool.
comSite:http://thinkinginmind.
blogspot.
com/About:Youcanfindmeontwitter:@neilstephensonSeeAuthorsPosts(3)GuestPostsGUESTPOSTBYNEILSTEPHENSON.
NeilStephensonisagrade6/7teacherinCalgary,Albertaandhasbeenhisdistrict's1:1PDcoordinatorforthelastthreeyears.
Neilspeaksregularlyabouttechnologyandinquirybasedlearning,andwaschosenin2007asaAppleDistinguishedEducator.
YoucanfollowNeil'sblogatThinkingInMind.
Lastyearmystudentsparticipatedinayear-long,HumanitiesProjectcalledtheCigarBoxProject.
Inanutshell,thestudentswalkedthroughCanadianHistoryby"remixing"historicalimagesandartifactsintotheirowncreations,designedtoexpresstheirunderstandingwhileallowingstudentstousetechnologytobuildaholisticunderstandingofhistory.
Alongtheway,studentscraftedhistoricaldigitalstories,aswellascreatingvoice-recorded,self-assessmentsthataccompaniedeachCigarPanel.
TheprojectwasinspiredbytheonlineexhibitattheCanadianMuseumofCivilization,andafterourstudentscreatedtheir"cigarboxpanels"lastyear,theMuseumaskedusifwewouldbewillingtolinkourstudentcreationswiththeNationalMuseum.
Thekidswereprettyexcited!
Therearealotmorepiecestoproject,andifyouareinterested,youcanreadmoreabouttheprojecthereandhere.
OneofthepiecesoftheprojectlastyearwasSkypeingwithSheldonPosen,thecuratorattheNationalMuseum.
Sinceallofourstudents'work(sketchbooks,iMovies,CigarPanels,self-assessments,etc)waspostedonstudentblogs,Sheldonwasabletoseeandcommentonthework.
Heimmediatelywantedtotalkwiththekids,notabouthiswork,butabouttheirs,whichwasamazing.
UsingSkype,Sheldonwasabletoencouragemystudents,providefeedbackonhowthestudentcreationscomparedtothehistoricpanels,andspeakaboutthecuriositythepanelsinstilledinhim.
Itwassopowerfultoseemygrade7studentsfearlesslyengagingwithaPhDinCanadianHistoryabouttheirwork!
ThisyearIamteachingtheprojectagain,withsomechangesandimprovements.
Onenewlayeristhatanotherschooljustoutsideofourcityhasagreedtoworkthroughthesameprojectatthesametimeasourstudents.
TheotherteacherandmyselfuseSkype(almostdaily!
)tocollaborate,shareresources,planandtracktheprogressoftheproject.
IspeakmorewiththeotherteacherthroughSkypethanIdowithmostteachersinmyschool!
Overthelast4months,ourstudentshavebeensharingresources,imagesandpeerfeedbackthroughGoogleDocs,aswellasprovidingprovidingeditingsuggestionsthroughVoicethread.
AllofthishasbeenpossiblebecauseSkypemakesitsoeasyfortheotherteacherandmyselftocollaborateandplan,somuchthatitfeelslikeweareinthesamebuilding.
IhavealsousedSkypetointroduceandteachpartsoftheprojecttotheotherschool.
SimilartoSkypeingwithSheldonlastyear,thisyearIhavebecometheexpertthatwalkstheotherstudentsthroughpartsoftheproject.
WehavealsocreatedsomeSkypeaccountsforourstudents,andhaveplannedsomeupcomingcollaborationtimesforourstudentstouseSkypetosharethehistoricalunderstandingtheyarebuilding.
Asyoucansee,SkypehasplayedakeyroleinthesuccessoftheprojectandhowInowplanmyworkonaregularbasis.
www.
isteconnects.
org/2009/02/15/the-many-roles-of-skype-in-the-classroom/TeachingExample#2SeeMe,HearMe:SkypeintheClassroomChatwithauthors,recordpodcasts,andcoverreference—allonlineandforfree—withSkypeByCarolynFoote--SchoolLibraryJournal,1/1/2008http://www.
schoollibraryjournal.
com/article/CA6515247.
html"Who'syourfavoritecharacter""Wheredoyougetideas"Imagineyourstudentshavingtheopportunitytoaskanauthorthesequestionsdirectly—withoutbreakingyourlibrarybudget.
Youcandothis—andawholelotmore—withthefreeInternettelephonyservicecalledSkype(www.
skype.
com).
ThroughSkype,mystudentsatWestlakeHighSchoolinAustin,TX,wereableto"visit"withCynthiaLeitichSmith,award-winningYAauthorofRainIsNotMyIndianName(HarperCollins,2001)andTantalize(Candlewick,2007).
Smith,whoisbasedinTexas,believesthateventslikethese"reinforcetheideathatbooksandtechnologydon'thavetocompete.
Theycanbecelebratedtogether,"shesays.
BecauseherbooksfrequentlycenteronNativeAmericanthemes,Smithhasdiscoveredotherbenefitsofadirect,onlineconnectionwithstudents.
"Mainstreamimagesofmodern-dayIndiansaremurkytononexistent,"saystheauthor,herselfamemberoftheMuscogeeCreeknation.
"SoitoccurredtomethatoneofthemosteffectiveandpositivewaystobusttheinaccuratestereotypesofIndianpeopleas"primitive"wastoembracetechnologiesthatwouldhelpmeconnectwithyoungreaders.
"Thatresonatedwithmystudents,includingCallieWendlandt.
"Whenyoureadthebook,youformyourownopinions,"shesays.
"Butwhenyoutalktotheauthor,yougettohearheropinionsandunderstandthebookbetter.
"InNovember2007,Wendlandt,alongwithteacherKristyRobins'ssophomoreEnglishclass,"met"Smithinourschoolcomputerlab,whereIhadpreviouslycreatedseveralSkypeaccounts.
Afterdownloadingthefreesoftware,Skypeuserscantalk,chat,ormakecallsforfreetoothersonSkype.
(Callstonon-Skypenumberscostabouttwocentsaminute.
)Forpurposesoftheclass,weoptedforatextchat.
AftersettingupaprivatechatbetweenSmithandmyself,Iinvitedfourstudentsintotheconversation.
Thesekidswerethescribes,responsibleforpostingquestionstoSmithonbehalfoftheclass,whiletheothersviewedtheproceedingsviaLCDprojector.
Wesavedourchatforlaterreviewanddiscussion.
Thestudentslikedtheimmediacyofthesession,inwhichtheydiscussedhowSmithcreatedhercharacters,howshedealswithwriter'sblock,andwhetherornotshelikesgarlic(shedoes!
)"Youwereabletointeractdirectlywiththeauthorinsteadofhavingtowaitonanemail,"sayssophomoreEmilyFurnish.
AndwhatcouldbebetterthanchattinginclassSwethaKotamraju,anotherstudent,saysSkypeisanidealtoolbecauseteensalready"useinstantmessagingandarecomfortablewithit.
"And"it'seasierforshykidstoaskquestions,"saysFurnish.
WhatabouthavingstudentsrecordtheirconversationswithauthorsorotherinterviewsubjectsforlaterbroadcastAnidealspringboardforpodcasting,Skypehassomebuilt-inrecordingfeatures.
However,AustralianeducatorChrisBetcher,creatoroftheVirtualStaffroompodcast(virtualstaffroom.
net),suggestsusingadditionaltools,suchasAudioHijackProandGarageBand(bothMaconly),andthefree,Web-basedprogramsAudacityandLevelatortoreducenoiseandaddspecialeffects.
YoucanhearanexampleofaSkypepodcastthatwemadeforthisarticleonBetcher'ssiteVirtualStaffroom(virtualstaffroom.
net/2007/11/22/episode-19-beyond-the-filters).
Skypecanalsobeusedforbookdiscussionswithotherschoolsorlibraries.
ClarenceFisher,ateacherinaremoteareaofManitoba,Canada,isusingSkypealongwithablogtohelphisstudentsdiscussS.
E.
Hinton'sTheOutsiderswitheighthgradersinBarbaraBarreda'sclassinLosAngeles.
(Publishers,too,aregettingintotheact.
SeeAnnickPress'sSkypeprogramin"TheBuzz,"pp.
26–27.
)Skypecanevenenhancereferenceservice.
OhioUniversity,forexample,offersSkype-basedresearchassistanceatkiosksinitsAthenslibrary.
Patronscanalsocallinquestionsfromoffcampus.
ThisservicecouldworkjustaswellinaK–12setting,especiallyindistrictswithlimitedlibrarystaff.
Evenwithinasinglecampus,Skypereferencehelpsputa"face"onlibraryservicesandislesscumbersomethanemail.
YoumightpostyourSkypeIDandextendvirtualreferenceservicetostudentsoneortwoeveningsaweek.
Ifyou'reconsideringSkypeforyourschool,you'llneedtodecidefirstwheretoinstallit:inthelibraryormediacenter,onteacherworkstations,orinthecomputerlab.
Someschoolsmaybalkatinstallingtheprogramatall,duetobandwidthorsecurityconcerns.
Inthatcase,proposeusingSkypeonstationswithrestrictedaccessandassignstudent"scribes,"aswedid,todotheactualposting.
Orstudentscoulduseonesupervisedcomputertocontactanexpertwiththelibrarian'sassistance.
Theremayalsobeprivacyconcernsrelatedtostudentaccounts.
AnneSmith,anEnglishteacheratArapahoeHighSchoolinLittleton,CO,hadherkidsregisteronSkypewithacertainnamingprotocol,sotheycouldeasilyidentifyclassmateswhomightcontactthem.
Aswithanytool,weneedtohelpstudentsdevelopgoodpracticesaroundusingit.
Bythetimeyoureadthisarticle,mylibrarywillbeclosedforrenovation,soI'llhavetosetuptemporaryshopinanothermediacenter.
Evenatadistance,Iwillremainaccessibletoteachers,thankstoSkype.
Whentheyhaveaquestion,theycaninitiateachatrightfromtheclassroom.
Withmywebcam,theycanevenseemeduringourconversation.
IfIhappentobeunavailable,thetextchat"holds"themessageuntilIreturn.
Workenvironmentsinthe21stcenturydemandconnectivity.
Ithinkourschoolsarenodifferent.
Ourstudentsmustlearntocommunicateeffectivelyinanever-moreglobalenvironment,andtheyneedourhelp.
YoucanstarttheconversationwithSkype.
THE6BESTFREEVIDEOCONFERENCINGAPPLICATIONShttp://www.
voip-sol.
com/6-best-free-video-conferencing-apps-services-tools/9/30/09ooVooItmighthaveoneofthoseabstractWeb2.
0names,butooVooisafreevideoconferencingservicenottobelaughedat.
It'safreedownloadthatcanrunonWindowsandMacOSX(withaLinuxversionintheoffing).
ThefreeversionofooVooletsyouvideoconferencewithupto3peopleoryoucanupgradetochatwithupto6people.
Ifyourcontactisn'tonlineyoucanalsoleavearecordedvideomessage,whichisaveryhandyfeature.
Othernon-videofeaturesinooVooincludeVoIPcalls,IM,textchatandperson-to-personfiletransfer.
Inall,ooVooismostdefinitelyworthtryingoutespeciallyifyoucanforeseeyourselfonlyevervideoconferencingwithoneormaybetwootherpeopleatatime.
SightSpeedI'vebeenalongtimefanofSightSpeed,eveninthefaceofstiffcompetitionfromarchrivalSkype.
WhatIlikeaboutSightSpeedisthatthisapplication,whichrunswithoutissueonWindows,MacOSXandLinux,offerssomuch:IM,VoIPand,ofcourse,videochatallcomeasstandard.
FreevideoconferencingwithSightSpeedisarealhighlight;it'sfast,crispandresponsive.
Thefreeversionallowsperson-to-personvideoconferencingonlybutthiscanbeupgradedtoa4-wayvideoconferencebysigninguptothemonthlyplan.
SkypeThisubiquitoussoftphoneoffersVoIP,IMandvideochatinoneapplication.
Asthisisapostaboutfreevideoconferencing,IdecidedtoplaceSkypebehindSightSpeedsimplybecausetheoptiontoupgradeisnotthere.
UnlikeSightSpeed,whereyoucanupgradeandvideoconferencewith4peoplesimultaneously,Skypeislimitedtofreeperson-to-personvideochat.
Itisfree,however,anddoesworkwellonWindows,MacOSXandLinux.
PalBeeThegreatthingaboutPalBeeisthatitiscompletelyweb-based,thereforetherearenodownloadsorinstalls:allyouneedisanaccountwithPalBeeandawebcamconnectedtoyourcomputer.
Onceyouhavegotyourmeetingroomsetupit'sjustamatterofsharingtheURLwithuptofiveofyourfriends.
Theonecaveatisthatthereisaonehourtimelimitonusingthemeetingroom.
PalBeehasagreatrecordingcapabilitybuiltrightinthatletsyourecordaconferenceandthenembeditonyourblogorprofile,orsimplysharewithcontacts.
Ifyoudon'tmindtheonehourlimitandplanonconductingrelativelysmallconferences(<5participants),thenPalBeeisdefinitelyworthashot.
WengomeetingTheWengomeetingaudioandvideoconferenceserviceisdevelopedbythesameFrenchcompanybehindthewellknownSkypealternative,WengoPhone.
LikePalBee,Wengomeetingisabrowser-basedservicethatusesFlashtechnology,whichmeansthatitcanrunonWindows,MacOSXorLinux.
Gettingameetingorganisedisfairlyeasy:simplyusetheonlineformtoentercontactdetailsandtheywillbegivenallinformationpertinenttotheconference.
JustaswithPalBee,Wengomeetingwillaccommodateupto5userssimultaneously.
iChatWhatlistoffreevideoconferencingapps,servicesandtoolswouldbecompletewithoutApple'siChatWhileitmayonlyrunonMacOSX,iChatletsyouchat,talkandvideoconferencewithcontactsontheAIMnetwork.
WhileiChatisanaccomplishedtextandvoiceapp,itexcelsatvideo.
Youcanvideoconferencewithupto3otherssimultaneouslywithiChat,anditdoesn'tcostathing.
Thatsoundsgreat,butiChathasothertricksupitssleeve.
Forinstance,youcanapplycustombackdropimagesorvideotomakeitlooklikeyouareinameetingroomoronthebeach.
Aswellasthis,iChatalsohasbuiltinscreensharingsupportandcapabilitytoshareanyfilesupportedbytheirQuickLooktechnology.
DoIlikeiChat.
Yep,Imostcertainlydo.
IsitthepanaceaoffreevideoconferencingNo,notforeveryone.
ButifyouarelookingforfreemultiattendeevideoconferencingonaMac,iChatisprettygoodindeed!