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=Using Skype in the Library or Classroom =

**Introduction **
====Skype is a video conferencing tool that can be used in the school library or classroom as an exciting way to motivate readers and writers as well as increase learning. As a librarian, planning Skype sessions with classroom teachers is fun way to collaborate. Skype is free but can be upgraded for a fee. It can be accessed and downloaded at [|www.skype.com]. With so many Web 2.0 tools to use, I wanted to focus on one tool at a time to learn about and share. I started looking for specific sites related to Skyping in the library, but added classroom ideas since they can be adapted to work in that setting. Since most projects are enhanced by writing, blogging with students would be a natural topic to delve into next. Public library use of Skype will not be covered in this project. ====

**Annotated Bibliography **
===="50 Awesome Ways to Use Skype in the Classroom." 2011. Teaching Degree. 9 March 2011<@http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-classroom/>. ====

====Chauncey, Mona Kerby and Sarah. "Virtual Author Visits in Your Classroom or Library." 5 March 2011. Skype an Author Network. 5 March 2011 [|. Many articles refer to this site when Skype in the classroom or library is mentioned. It includes success stories, videos, and notes from authors who have Skyped with students. The wiki provides pages for authors who are interested in conducting Skype visits with schools. Consult this article first when looking for authors to bring into your classroom or library. This resource is sponsored by author Mona Kerby (Owney the Mail Pouch Pooch, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008) and school library media specialist Sarah Chauncey from NY. ====

====Crosby, Brian. "Getting Started: Video Conferencing It's Easy, Free, and Powerful." 23 October 2008. K12 Online Conference 2010. 12 March 2011 . This 13 minute video was created by Brian Crosby, a fourth grade teacher from Nevada, who is very experienced using Skype and other Web 2.0 tools with his students. The video presents many ways Skype can be used in school such as inclusion when a student is too ill to attend, sharing experts and experiences, and collaborating with other students. Many ideas can be gained as you watch Mr. Crosby’s students efficiently use video conferencing. K12 Online Conference allows educators to participate and view archived events on innovative ways to use Web 2.0 tools and technologies in education. ====

====Fryer, Wesley A. "Skype in the Classroom." 2 January 2008. Integrating Technology in the Classroom. 9 March 2011 <[] >. Written by international learning consultant, author, and educator Wesley A. Fryer, this article has essential information for teachers and librarians about using Skype in the schools. Starting off describing what Skype is, Fryer gives additional tips for starting up with voice conferencing. He recommends the established Internet site [|www.epals.com] where educators can search for other educators and match up project ideas in the United States and around the world. This article includes troubleshooting information as well as ideas for approaching a principal or instructional technology department to gain approval for doing a Skype or voice conferencing project. Internet safety is also mentioned. This should be one of the first articles you read if you are just beginning to Skype at your school. Fryer gives presentations to parents, students, and teachers and was the leading keynote speaker at the 2010 Midwest Educational Technology Conference in Missouri. He also writes a blog called [|Moving at the Speed of Creativity.] ====

====Lim, Janine, Roxanne Glaser, and Arnie Comer. "Videoconference Project Templates." Berrien RESA. 2010. 9 March 2011 [|. ====

====Messner, Kate. "An Author in Every Classroom: Kids Connecting with Authors via Skype. It’s the Next Best Thing to Being There." 1 September 2010. School Library Journal. 5 March 2011 <[] >. ====

====—. "Met Any Good Authors Lately? Classroom Author Visits can Happen via Skype." 1 August 2009. School Library Journal. 5 March 2011 [|. Teacher and author Kate Messner illustrates the ease of using Skype in her classroom. Included are lists of ideas for teachers or librarians on how to prepare students for a Skype author visit. She also provides a list of authors who will do free 20-minute Skype visits, arranged by age level. School Library Journal is the leading print magazine for librarians and has been in print since 1954. Messner is a middle school English teacher and author of the book The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z (Walker Books, 2009) as well as an experienced Skype user. ====

====Svitak, Adora. "5 Ways Classrooms can use Video Conferencing." 21 April 2010. Mashable. 9 March 2011< []>. ====

====<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Tolisano, Silvia Rosenthal. Around the World with 80 Schools. 6 February 2011. 12 March 2011 <[] >. Around the World with 80 Schools is a project in which classrooms are challenged to connect with 80 schools by using Skype. This informational blog provides useful ideas to make a Skype call a learning call. Included are pre-activities, during the call suggestions, and post-call activites which are rich learning experiences designed to make the most of a Skype call. Jobs are assigned to students to make the experience go smoothly and call etiquette is practiced and reviewed. Click the Skype tab at the top for step-by-step information about making Skype visits. Also listed are blogs that are doing the project and teachers who want to collaborate. Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano holds a Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Instructional Technology, speaks at national and international conferences and teacher trainings, and writes a blog called [|Langwitches]. This all-inclusive blog has everything you would need to get started with Skype at your school. ====

====<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Watters, Audrey. "Skype in the Classroom" Launches to Connect Teachers & Students Worldwide." 27 February 2011. ReadWriteWeb. 5 March 2011 <[]>. ====

**<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Summary **
====<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Using Skype or another video conferencing program should be for extending the learning of your students, not just used for the “wow-factor” (Crosby). Conducting author visits is a wonderful way to motivate students to read more and to work on their writing skills. Skyping can also increase communication skills in students, especially with ELL students. With budget limitations, using technology such as Skype, long-distance visits with authors and other experts can be accomplished easier and cheaper (Messner, An Author in Every Classroom). Collaborating with other teachers and classrooms is one way to extend learning. Speaking with experts through Skype about a topic your students are learning about deepens the learning. Voice conferencing programs may be blocked by school district Instructional Technology Departments so permission by the IT director as well as your school principal would be advised. Students may need permission slips to legally be allowed to participate in Skype conference calls. It is recommended that parents be advised of who their children are speaking to and for what reason. ==== ====<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">If this topic is something you’d like to look into further, searching for “video conferencing” and “school”, “library”, or “classroom” will get many more articles than what are listed here. Additional information about using Skype in the Classroom can be found at [] (Watters). Use the ideas you find in these documents, combine them with topics and projects you are doing in your library or classroom, and Skype away! ====