Below are my notes from Silvia's presentation combined with resources she provides on her Langwitches Blog.

Why use Skype?
Besides the basic literacies, schools need to address other literacies, including media, information, intercultural, ethical, and network. They also need to address skills like communication, collaboration, and creating connections. Modeling and creating a learning network for and with your students that include peers from across the globe, experts on subject matters, authors of books, etc. is a great way to engage students in learning while practicing those literacies and skills.

How-To
You need to download and install the Skype software. It's available for Macintosh and Windows. You also need to create an account. Don't worry, as long as you are making connections to other computers, Skype is completely free of charge. You will, however, want a microphone and webcam. The built-in iSight camera and microphone on Apple computers are great for Skype. Windows computers might already have a built-in camera and microphone. If not, there are a wide vareity of USB webcams to choose from. While Skype can be used like a telephone, using the video conference feature really helps student feel connected.

Once you are set up, you will need to add contacts within Skype (see Finding Contact Partners below). When your contact is online, you can intimate a text, audio, or video connection. Once they accept your invitation, the connection is made.

Possibilities and Strategies
Some authors and illustrators are available for Skype. Silvia mentions Mike Artell and Jan & Phil Huling. Students enjoy speaking with people who wrote books they love. Speaking with authors is a great way for students to understand the writing process. Skype can also connect students to each other. Silvia mentions students using Skype to co-create projects like the I Have a Dream Voicethread and to read each other stories.

Another way teachers are using Skype is to check in with their class when away. Teachers could report in from various locations. Silvia mentions teachers Skyping from volcanoes, valleys, and Rome. Those could be great places, but most likely a teacher would be reporting in from a conference or workshop they are attending.

Finding Connection Partners
Silvia lists some projects and directories to help teachers find Skype connection partners:

• Around the World with 80 Schools
• Skype in an Author
• Skype in Schools
• Skype other Classrooms
• Skype for Educators
• Skype in the Classroom- EduSkypers Phonebook
• Online Projects for teachers

Classroom Management Tips

• The success of your Skype connection might depend on the preparation your do with students ahead of the actual Skype call and reflection time given after the call has been completed.
• Practice a call by connecting with another class in your own school building before making the real connection.
• Arrange a time with your Skype partner to check audio and video.
• Overcome time zone and Daylight Savings Time challenges with World Click Time Zone Converter.
• Send an email reminder to your Skype partner the night before or the morning of your scheduled connection time.
• Make a list of the order of questions or students to be posted in the room during the call.
• Keep the call discussion focused. Before the connection make a plan with the class about what you want to learn from the call and what they will do with the information they learn.
• Prepare students with clear expectations. Remind them of what it means to be polite.
• Use a hand or silent signals to students in case they become disruptive during the call.
• Point out to students that when they are not speaking, they still might be on camera and should behave accordingly. No bunny ears or funny faces.
• Speak slowly, loud, clear, and with confidence during the call. Take turns speaking, respond orally and with body language that show engagement. Don't interrupt and listen attentively.
• Review what words are slang and regional, especially when connecting with non-native speakers.
• Practice by role playing before the call to learn how to keep a conversation going.
• Look into the webcam. Attention is to be paid to the connection partner, not on the view of themselves.
• Remind students of internet safety. They don't need to share more than their first names, phone numbers, or home addresses.
• Assign roles to students, such as the greeter, producer, host, camera person, interviewer, and interviewee.
• Give students something to do while they are not talking during a Skype call. Examples include note taking, contributing to an online chat room (Chatzy, TodaysMeet, and Tinychat are three easy chat room sites), composing questions, or simply holding a stress ball.
• Have a hotseat prepared where the student who is speaking will sit.
• Create a protocol when asking questions or responding. These could be, "Hello, my name is...," "My questions is...," or "My response is..."
• Use the Skype chat feature to let your connection partner know you are ready to start the call. Also use this chat in case you have audio difficulties during the call.
• Arrange for shy students to come up to the microphone with a buddy.
• Use Google My Maps to keep track of who you have connected with throughout the school year. You can also include information learned or data collected from each connection.
• Reflect as a class on the finished call by discussing what would be improved next time, what have we learned, and how can we use what we learned, what questions do we still have, and do we need a follow-up email to the connection partner.
• Keeping a blog about the Skype connections is a great way to remember and share what is learned during Skype calls.
• There are certainly challenges when it comes to Skyping. They include time zones, school hours, misbehavior, light placing, camera and mic issues, echo, dropped calls, internet bandwidth, and call quality. The largest challenge might be that Skype is blocked in your school.

Image of students is by Flickr user superkimbo in BKK.