1.  Skype: Bringing the World to Your Classroom Mid-South Tech Conference December 10, 2009

2. First Things First: Getting Skype into Your Classroom  Skype will not download in Memphis City Schools and possibly in several other districts.  As an alternative, you can run it completely from your USB flash drive.  Only requires about 25 MB of storage space on your flash drive.

3. Making Skype Portable http://www.von-phone.com/portable-skype.php  On your home computer, download and install Skype. http://www.skype.com http://www.skype.com  Find the skype.exe file where it installed.  On your USB drive, create a folder and name it “Skype”.  Copy skype.exe into “Skype”.  Inside the Skype folder, create a folder and name it “Data”.

4. Making Skype Portable (cont.)  Create a new file in Notepad, and name it “skype.bat”.  In this text file, add the following text: skype.exe /datapath:”Data” /removable  Save it inside the Data folder, and exit Notepad.  Now Skype is portable for any PC.  Your call history, account settings, and other personal Skype settings stay on your USB flash drive not on the computer.

5. An Alternative: USB Skype Memory Phone from Von-Phone Plug and Play No need to install Skype on PC Currently $29.95 http://www.von-phone.com/usb_skype_memory_phone.php

6. Must Haves  Webcam  Microphone  Speakers  High Speed Internet Connection  Someone to call

7. Who Can I Call?  Like-minded educators http://www.epals.com/ http://www.epals.com/  People willing to Skype into your classroom. http://www.skypeforeducators.com/educators.htm http://www.skypeforeducators.com/educators.htm  Authors http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6673572.html http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6673572.html  People you already know—parents, grandparents, community members

8. Ideas for Skype  Support ESL students or foreign language learning  Pen Pals  Read Alouds  Real conversations with real experts  Collaboration without boundaries  Homework helper  Virtual Substitute—Monitor your class.

9. More information  http://theedublogger.com/want-to-connect-with-other- classrooms/ http://theedublogger.com/want-to-connect-with-other- classrooms/  http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/10/using-skype- in-classroom-or-just.html http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/10/using-skype- in-classroom-or-just.html  http://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/skype-in- education http://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/skype-in- education  http://edtechteacher.org/skypetutorial.html http://edtechteacher.org/skypetutorial.html  http://www.tutorpipe.com/home.php?sub=28# http://www.tutorpipe.com/home.php?sub=28#

10. More Information (cont.)  http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to- use-skype-in-the-classroom/ http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to- use-skype-in-the-classroom/  http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/using-skype-at- school.html http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/using-skype-at- school.html  http://skypeinschools.pbworks.com/ http://skypeinschools.pbworks.com/  http://annickpress.blogspot.com/2008/08/skype-tutorials-for- teachers-authors.html http://annickpress.blogspot.com/2008/08/skype-tutorials-for- teachers-authors.html  http://skypejournal.com/ http://skypejournal.com/