Skype in education

Skype is a free computer program that you can install on your computer. You download the software, register and you can then contact others who also are registered on Skype. In addition to the PC you also need a web camera, headphones, a microphone and a high-speed broadband connection. Skype allows us to send and receive text messages, talk and have video calls.

Skype is used to teaching in some schools. It has become popular because schools can connect with people virtually almost anywhere in the world (as long as they have accession to Internet). Some school like to use Skype in language teaching and to open their students to a world beyond the classroom walls.

Here are some examples of what you can use Skype to:

A student is admitted to the hospital and has to spend some time there. By using Skype the student can participate in the classroom instruction. The student will see and hear their classmates and even participate actively in the class. This means that the student is not put off the time he/she is in the hospital, but has a little social connection with the class.

A student wants to have electives in Chinese, but unfortunately the school does not have the opportunity to do so. Then Skype can be a possibility if another school has Chinese in electives. The student connects to the Skype, and participates in line with the other students.

Crew on board the boats can study and even take the exam on board the boat. This means that they do not have to interrupt their time on board or wait until they have their free times period.

You may have set days where there is contact with another class from another country where you will learn about each other's countries. Then it can be different themes each time, where the class has worked with the themes before they present it. It can be anything from cooking, dancing or the country's history.

In addition, there are great opportunities to invite guest speakers into the classroom. It can be anyone from a factory, a writer, an actor, people from the government, etc.

To find school you can cooperate with you can look here and here.

You may also download Skype to your iPhone, iPod and iPad.












There may be several reasons why student can`t attend school. In these Internet-times you have the opportunity to teach even those students by using Skype. Skype is free to use, and you almost need just a computer. So log on and let all the students take part in your teaching.