Video+Conferencing

[|GoogleDoc presentation] about web conferencing - tips, implementation suggestions, and project ideas.



[|Skype] Skype is free software that enables users to make telephone and video calls via the Internet. It is free when making calls to other users of the service, and calls to toll-free numbers are also free. Skype also offers instant messaging, the ability to transfer files, and videoconferencing. Yup, that's right -- phone calls AND video calls to //any// Internet-connected computer are free. Skype has a myriad of potential uses in the classroom - connecting classrooms around the world for research, interviewing authors and experts, communicating with families, keeping an injured or ill student connected to the teacher and classmates. In January 2009, the //School Library Journal// published this article, which suggested using Skype to allow authors to virtually visit your classroom. And, being a librarian, the writer also included a nice task list to help you get started with Skype. [|Edutopia article] about using Skype [|Time: Tech] blog post about Skype in education [|Skype blog]: Skype in the classroom community [|Skype In The Classroom]: Skype's global community for educators

For Mac users, another option would be iChat or Facetime. Similar scenario, but not as globally supported as Skype.