Teachers are really doers.. Check out chat across the USA. This teacher has used Skype and Google Chat to connect with folks everywhere. What a great experience for a third grade class.

This year we suspect our connections to teachers will expand in the horizon of Skype. So this biggest question by teachers for using skype in the classroom are, "How do I use skype in the classroom?"

The best way to answer this is by actually looking at connections in terms of grouping. Janine Lim and The Amabassador Project have put together a fantastic list which I will sum up here:

1. 1. Interpersonal Connections: Connecting to another classroom, teacher etc to share. Groups include Epals, Global Classrooms etc.
2. 2. Information Collection: Sharing or exchanging information on a theme in your classroom. This includes "field trips."
3. 3. Problem Solving: Solving mysteries, simulations or social action projects.

As content providers Janine Lim suggests the following formats, that students can participate in or use to connect with another classroom:

1. Presentation followed by Q&A.
2. Participation in each other’s presentations: Using the other class’
3. Hands-on interaction.
4. Bringing created objects to share and interact with. Monster Match, sharing worm farms, growing gardens, design projects.
5. Dialogue, discussion, debate. True spontaneous conversations.

Janine Lim has further details in her booklet that she has put together as well as details for how to set up a classroom collaboration. Download here.

As for Skype, well there are lots of additional ways that you can add. Check out the following resources:

1. Skype in Schools: Provides a list of classrooms wanting to connect.

2.. Epals: Another site connecting teachers for projects.

2. Global-Leap : A site for connecting teachers for projects.

After completing a conference via skype with a first grade teacher, we were confronted with a question from the teacher:

How do I engage all of my students during the videoconference? I need something to do for all of them!

What she presented was the true issue of videoconferencing Interactivity. So what can you do to truly engage all of a 1-2nd grade audience? 

So first and foremost, set-up your classroom so it is conducive to videoconferencing for your age level of your students: Keep the time down to 30 minutes. Be sure all students are seated within the view of the camera (align the seats in a row in front of the camera, which is set in front of the screen (ie display computer screen on a larger screen, whiteboard, etc. using a projector, place the camera so it can view all of the students). Be sure students understand the etiquette of videoconferencing. Behave as if the person where visiting in real person: Do not speak while others are speaking, do not turn your back to the camera, do not hold side conversations, do not speak to others off the camera, do not pick your nose or anything else that would embarrass yourself in front of another person! For more on VTC Etiquette, download Ambassador Projects doc.

Or take a look at the following sites for more info for VTC Etiquette: 

• VideCookBook Etiquette
• Webct Etiquette

What makes a videoconference interactive:

To begin with, check out Ambassador Project's document that uses a scale for gauging interactivity. 

1. Include songs and movement as part of the lesson.

2. Include a story with media (pictures)

3. Prepare the content in the form of a mystery in which students collect clues.

4. Prepare content that is given to each group, so when all content is put together from each group the main meaning is discovered.

What can I do as a classroom teacher to engage my students?

1. Have the guest speaker introduce the topics (with a fun hook of course) and then have students pair up in teams and complete a task on paper while other teams connect individually with the presenter.

2. Have students collect facts or information on a worksheet or brainstorm paper as the presenter shares the content.

3. Have students pre-prepare questions to ask during the presentation.

4. Prepare students a blank storybook that they add drawings and writing to during the conference.

5. Have students record information in a KWL: What you know, What you want to know and what you want to learn.

Do you have other ideas? Share them in the comments below.