Skype

If any of you have family or friends overseas, Skype is a must-have.

Saint Stephen's has been using Skype successfully to communicate with Tanzania for over a year, and I think it's wonderful that our students have been able to not only communicate with students in Tanzania, but also see the faces of the students with whom they're communicating.

During this week, while I've had free Internet, I've left Skype hooked up in my room most evenings. (Which is the middle of the night in the US, so most people aren't online, but still...)

When I talk to my husband, I can watch our cats roaming around in front of the computer screen. Don't let lack of a webcam stop you. It will work just like a regular phone conversation as well. I wear a headset mic, but you can use your computer's general mic and speakers. Plus it's a free download and free anywhere in the world for computer-to-computer calls. (Also low cost for computer-to-phone calls.)

I'd like to have set up a web conference with Saint Stephens, but I'm also excited to talk to people in person when I return. Nothing tech-based is a substitute for the real thing.

Anyway, Skype is a great program, and other teachers, especially elementary, are using it to communicate with their classes several times a week. One principal in my group told her students they'd be having disciplinary meetings via Skype if they misbehaved. Luckily, it hasn't come to that.

Which is why I'm sad to report that some school districts are now banning Skype universally because of the "unknown danger" it presents. You can misuse most things, but I've seen only responsible use on this trip. My account is set up so I have to approve people before they're added to my list and can see when I'm online and available to talk. This actually makes it more private than a phone line! I have to manually turn on the video each time, and I could "block" someone if I no longer wanted them to call me. It's disappointing to me when I hear about decisions like immediately banning Skype district-wide because I've seen tangible benefits to the program.