Skype for learning and teaching

Introduction
Do you know this icon?
How many of you have a
Skype account?
How many of you have
used it for learning or for
teaching?

Lic. Ivonne Elizabeth Pinillos Nieto

What is skype?
 Skype is a free communication software that allows
users to make calls, send instant messages and do
video conferencing online wherever they are. It is one
of the best voice -over-internet services online and was
created in 2003 by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis
but later on was owned by Microsoft particularly in the
year 2011.

System requirements
 Skype for Windows desktop
 PC running Windows® XP, Vista or 7, both 32- and 64-bit operating systems.
 Internet connection – broadband is best (GPRS is not supported for voice
calls).
 Speakers and microphone – built-in or separate.
 For voice calls we recommend a broadband connection with 100 kbps down /
100 kbps up.
 For group video calling everyone on the call needs Skype 5.0 for Windows or
Mac or higher plus webcams, and at least one person on the call needs to have a
Skype Premium subscription. For best quality we recommend you use a high-
speed broadband connection of 4Mbps down / 512kbps up and a computer
with a Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz processor. As a minimum you’ll need a high-speed
broad connection of 512kbps down / 128kbps up and a computer with a 1 GHz
processor.

Think about all your devices…
It’s important to remember that Skype doesn’t work
necessarily person to person. One computer may be hooked
up to a large screen and presenter slides may be projected
onto that large screen to a group of people sitting in a
theatre-style classroom. In this way, Skype my be used to
teach groups of people.
In this way, we can see how Skype may be used to
connect individuals, one individual to a group or one group
to another group.

Set up a Skype account
https://login.skype.com/account/signup-form

Install the program
http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-
windows/downloading/

Ideas on how you can use skype
 In pairs think about 2 or 3 ideas on how we can use
skype and report them to the class.
1. Personal use
2. Organizational use
3. Leadership use
4. Marketing
5. Tutoring
6. Teaching
7. Learning

Personal use
 Teacher and others who are
reluctant to “learn yet another new
technology” can be encouraged to
try Skype for personal reasons.

Leadership use
 To engage with
other at a distance.
 To have meetings
and discuss projects
from the computer.

Tutoring
 Tutors and teachers can provide after school help to
students needing extra attention via Skype.

Teaching and learning
Skype websites
http://www.skypelearn.com/
https://education.skype.com/
http://community.skype.com/

Advantages of using Skype
Use English in real time
Culture sharing
Engagement in the learning process
Self confidence – enthusiasm
Introduction of web tools
Understand time zones (correlation with other
subjects)

Disadvantages of using Skype
Are there any disadvantages, well YES:
Difference in time zones
Problems with technology
Implementation in curriculum (is it possible)
But, if there is a will there is a way, right?

Conclusions
 Provides teachers and students the possibility to stay
at home and have lessons.
 Provides a variety of authentic learning experiences
and several methodological objectives can be solved:
- high motivation,
- socio cultural knowledge,
- formation and development of
speaking, reading, listening and writing skills,
- vocabulary, grammar, etc

Skype for learning and teaching

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