1. Connecting Around the World to Build 21st Century Skills
In this session teachers and staff will hear about virtual visits around the globe to connect classrooms and build 21st Century skills. Watch a visit and see the student engagement, how students apply what they know and build their problem solving skills. This session will provide technology details on how to set up and implement virtual visits to enhance curriculum and instruction.
Jennifer Wood
Twitter:
All Resources + Presentation:

2. For students, especially those in high-poverty, a cultural experience can be priceless. Virtual visits offer countless ways to connect students to authors, experts, places and other kids.

3. Connect Right Away…
Connecting with an educator from Ecuador

4. Tech & Tools Needed… Internet access Computer
Best if can project on SmartBoard or big screen
Camera –many built in
Microphone –many built in, can purchase $20-ish
Skype software- download
-or-
Google Hangouts (free)
-options: iPad apps available, could face time

5. Mystery State/Country Visits
What is it?
Can be done in 2nd thru High School

6. Finding classrooms to connect with…
Google Communities

7. Finding classrooms to connect with…
Skype Map: classroom/mystery-skype
Create a Skype account
Opt in for Mystery State Visits

8. What else you need… Map with state names Something to mark with
Yes/No/Thinking signs
Your state sharing tools
Fact sheets
Fact walk
Video
Just Q & A

10. Map Data Blank map in September Blank map in May
ALL students went up, most by a great deal

13. Mystery State Jobs/Roles…

14. Backchanneling… Padlet To create a Padlet account: https://padlet.com/
To create a QR Code: 
QR Code reader: 

18. Tips… Have a whiteboard handy in case sound is an issue
Have students occasionally turn in Maps, write something they learned on the back- accountability 
For Hangouts- make sure only 1 is in play-otherwise bad feedback
Use the chat/message or backchannel option to clarify if needed
ALWAYS- vet a classroom/teacher first
Check out school website
Do a practice call
Make sure connecting via quality routes
Gather questions beforehand- have a way to vet for quality
Practice first!
Classroom management- go over before the visit
If students haven't signed the form to be photographed-shouldn't be on screen in any way
Post your project in your building

21. Scheduling Visits You Can Book Me Google Calendar Sign up Genius
Calendly

22. Group Book Discussions…
Read the same book in all classrooms (not limited to 2)
Develop discussion questions to ask each other
Can connect throughout reading
Discuss vocabulary
Discuss key details
Set up an author visit to wrap it up

23. Author Visits Setup Author visit-plan details
Students brainstorm questions in advance
Have a plan for who will ask questions/ before?
Many authors will schedule free or low cost Virtual Visits, just ask!
Visit an author website to check. 
Find books on IL award lists
Many authors will visit for no charge if the school has purchased a set of books.
Some author virtual sites:

25. https://twitter.com/therealmdpayne

28. Sharing Writing…
After students complete a writing project, connect with another classroom to share it
Connect via Google communities or other schools within your same district
Pick top 3-ish on each side
Make it something to work for while writing- get the best work!

29. Other Options… Mystery Animal (lower elem) Mystery # (elem)
Virtual Field Trip (any age)
Talk With Experts (any age)
History Hunters (upper elem to high school)
After Finding States- Move To Cities (upper elem to HS)
Practice Languages (any age)

33. Standards…
Skype can help a lesson tackle this Common Core anchor standard at almost every grade level:
 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Skype projects give students access to global experiences they will always remember. ​

36. 21st Century Skills…

37. Skype in the Classroom
For schools with high-poverty students, a cultural experience can be priceless. Skype offers countless ways to connect students to authors, experts, places and other kids.
Here is what you will need…
A Skype account- it's free! I would recommend creating one Skype account for your school. This allows Skype to confirm that you are a school and an educator.  Visit Skype's home page to begin your sign up: 
After you have signed up with Skype, go to Skype in the Classroom to sign in. This is where you will find all of your classroom connections and project links: 
You will need Skype installed on the classroom computer or a laptop (the laptop is the best option.) IT will need to do this for you, and can do remotely. Set up a time to install Skype well in advance of a Skype call. Plugging the laptop into the SmartBoard will put the entire Skype event on the big screen for the entire classroom to see.
You will need a webcam. If you have installed Skype on a district laptop, the webcam is built in. You are able to access the camera on the laptop so that the Skype caller can see your classroom. If you have access to a webcam- these can be easily plugged into a USB port and used with a desktop computer. An inexpensive webcam will do the trick. Logitech makes user friendly webcams.
Test out Skype- use the test call options within Skype but also call a neighboring teacher to make sure sound and video are all in working order.
Once you have the setup complete you are ready to connect with a classroom, find an expert, find an author the students have read or go on a virtual field trip!
Authors on Skype: 
Experts & guest speakers: 
Connect with classrooms for projects: 
Virtual Field trips: 
You can visit Rockford's own Tinker Swiss Cottage- even if you don't have the field trip funds to take a bus through town. 
Skype does have an iPad app. Setup Skype on a desktop or laptop for Plan B just in case. The iPads can jump wi-fi networks which could drop the call. Apple TV signals can sometimes get crossed as well. Having Plan B prepared will help just in case something happens.
There have been sound issues in the past. There is a button to turn on messaging while on a Skype call. If the caller cannot hear well, turn this on to type out questions quickly. This allows the call to continue even if a few bugs. 
Planning before the call helps the project run seamlessly. Students will want to prepare in advance any materials needed, brainstorm questions to ask, decide on the agenda (even for a 15 min call!) and communicate with the Skype caller about what information they will deliver.
Virtual visits using Skype could be an introduction to a lesson, a setup to a great book, a debriefing about a literature experience, a writing lesson, a culminating activity to see what they've learned and/or teach collaboration on a global scale. 
Skype can help a lesson tackle this Common Core anchor standard at almost every grade level:
 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Skype projects give students access to global experiences that they will always remember. ​