Student teaching & a bit about Skype

I have had a great first week student teaching and am incredibly eager to continue and become more involved. My relationship with my cooperating teacher is unique (she was a teacher of mine years ago) and so we are moving at a brisker pace toward me taking the lead on teaching and, because we know each other well already, she has been incredibly flexible about me implementing my own ideas (love it!). Once I get some technology projects in place, I will be sure to let you know what's what.

For now, a bit about Skype. For those of you who don't know, Skype is a communication application that easily incorporates phone calls, instant messages, file sharing, audio, and video. It is a free download on the web and is fun and easy to use for cheaply contacting co-workers, friends, and family. Of course, Skype also has some great Web 2.0 uses for the 21st century classroom, some of which you might find useful.

An educator and blogger has compiled a quick and dirty list of Skype's applications across a variety of disciplines here and I encourage you to check it out and see what you can do with this tool in your classroom or advisory. If you're still wary about using it, I suggest you start the way I did and download the program and either convince a friend to do the same or find someone you know who already uses it, and just play around making cheap phone calls and free chats. You'd be surprised how many people you know are already Skyping.

For more information, consult skype.com.