Online Learning With Skype
Aug 7th, 2008
Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Rich Legg
As a Skype user, I've been able to make long distance phone calls for only a few bucks a month. This new age phone company uses the internet to offer national and international phone service at a huge discount. Now, some classrooms are using internet phone companies to enhance their online learning.
A School Library Journal article reports on the benefits of Skype, and similar companies:
"Who's your favorite character?" "Where do you get ideas?" Imagine your students having the opportunity to ask an author these questions directly-without breaking your library budget. You can do this-and a whole lot more-with the free Internet telephony service called Skype.Through Skype, my students at Westlake High School in Austin, TX, were able to "visit" with Cynthia Leitich Smith, award-winning YA author of Rain Is Not My Indian Name (HarperCollins, 2001) and Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007). Smith, who is based in Texas, believes that events like these "reinforce the idea that books and technology don't have to compete. They can be celebrated together," she says."
If you're an online student, you may be able to use Skype to conference with your peers nationwide – without being charged per minute.
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