Skype

Today we'll focus on how to set up Skype as a tool for communicating with your mentor, with project staff, and with each other, from the classroom. In the future, we hope you'll consider using Skype to bring in artists to your classroom for virtual visits!
 * Skype Training **

toc

=Introduction=

What is [|Skype]?
As a free web 2.0 tool for communication via the Internet, [|Skype] can't be beat. Not only can you use it for text messaging, you can also do single and mulit-user voice calls, and video calls as well. New features are continuing to be added which allow for desktop sharing, remote game playing, avatar creation and more. Even the hit TV show, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" now uses video Skype features for its "Ask the Expert" lifeline!

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Why Call?
Today we'll call the Director of Art Education at [|Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA] as an example of the power of Skype as a tool for learning. Who could you call for free to learn more or to support you in meeting your PPDP goals? Can you think of an artist or musician you could virtually bring in to your classroom with this technology as part of your Unit Plan?

=Your Turn=

Installation
We'll practice by installing Skype on the IU computers. You'll need to install it on your computer at home. Watch the video below to see installation and basic use of Skype.

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Account setup
Skype software is a free download. The account you set up is free as well - so long as you contact others with a Skype account. If you prefer, you can actually set up Skype to bill you when you call land lines as well. For our purposes, we'll focus just on the free tools.
 * Open http://www.skype.com/
 * click on "download skype"
 * click on "save file"
 * click on the "setup.skype.exe" file
 * follow the setup instructions
 * once finished, double click to launch skype

=Using Skype=

Adding Contacts
Once you've installed Skype on your computer, double click to launch the application (its a blue cloud with a white "S" in the center) It does look slightly different on Windows versus Mac machines. However you'll mainly want ot look for the "add" button - to search for folks you want to add to your contact lists.
 * Click on "Add"
 * Type in the person's name or email address to let Skype search for them
 * Once a name comes up that you want to add to your list, click to highlight the name
 * Click on "add contact"
 * Type in a short message to introduce yourself to the person you want to establish contact with - and decide the level of viewing you will allow them to have
 * click on okay
 * You'll notice their name listed in your contacts list
 * A gray "?" means they have not accepted your offer, a gray "X" means they are offline, a green "checkmark" means they are online and available for contact
 * Click on the person's name once, choose the blue "chat" button to text with them, choose the green "call" button to do an audio call

Account Settings
Account settings are where you can customize your version of Skype to suit your needs. (Windows: go to tools, and options - Mac: go to Skype, and preferences)
 * General: lets you save your password, check for updates, show your status to others, manage your address book, how double clicking behaves, and how away notifications behave on your account
 * Privacy: lets you decide who can call you and who can see you when you are online
 * Notification: lets you decide whether or not to have audible cues to let you know when others come online or try to call you
 * Audio: Lets you set up your new headset and webcam (if you need to)
 * Calls: Lets you set up dialing rules
 * Video: lets you set up your webcam, and determine how it will operate (and when)
 * Chat: lets you customize your chat window with fonts, and lets you decide on whether or not to keep a chat history
 * File Transfers: lets you decide whether or not to share pictures, files, etc. with your contacts
 * Advanced: lets you choose advanced features
 * Recording: lets you record your audio calls (many folks use this for podcasting purposes)

Placing Calls
Once you have your software installed and contacts added, using Skype is as simple as clicking on a contact's name, choosing: If you look at the pull down menu next to the green bubble by your name, you'll see text explanations telling you what each of the different green bubbles means (away, available, do not disturb, etc.).
 * the blue bubble to use the text chat feature
 * the green bubble to choose the audio/video feature

=Advanced features= Once you plug in your new webcam, and go through the video setup below:
 * **Windows Machines** || **Macintosh Computers** ||
 * * click on tools
 * click on options
 * click on video settings
 * choose the setting preferences you prefer AA || * click on Skype
 * click on preferences
 * click on video settings
 * choose the setting preferences you prefer AA ||

Or, watch the video below to see how to set up your computer to do video Skype calls. media type="custom" key="2681807"

=Collaborating Via Skype= To facilitate collaboration with one another, share your name and Skype user name below:
 * **Name** || **Skype Username AAAAAAAAAAAA ** ||
 * **//Mara Linaberger AAAAAAAAAAAAAA //** || **//ms.linaberger//** ||
 * **//Jamie Kasper//** || **//jamie.kasper//** ||
 * **//David Berlin//** || **//davidb_071807//** ||
 * **//Leslie Gates//** || **//lesliegates//** ||
 * **//Rosemary Omniewski//** || **//romniewski//** ||
 * //**Camille Nischal**// || //**camille_nischal**// ||
 * Liz Gessner || emg328 ||
 * Brenda Christeleit || brenda.christeleit ||
 * Karen Spencer || karendspencer ||
 * Tracey Gilpin || Tracey Gilpin ||
 * Earl Gilpin || earlgilpin ||
 * Bethany Hughes || trianglepose ||
 * Ann Cehula || anncehula ||
 * Lorraine Kelly || mrslkelly ||
 * Jennifer Haun || jennifer.haun1 ||
 * Aimee Vacanti || aimeesvc ||
 * Diane Ader || diane.ader ||
 * Ken Musko || Ken.Musko ||
 * Amanda Barber || buckbarber ||
 * Michael Bruno || mbruno4486 ||
 * Randi Knizner || randiknizner ||
 * Tricia Rohlf || trohlf ||
 * Antonette Dues || antonette.dues ||
 * Cindy Gregg || cindy.gregg1 ||
 * Dave Dayton || dayton111 ||
 * Jason Mamajek || jason.mamajek ||
 * Mark Poole || mpoole64 ||
 * Sharon Sementa-Bunyan || sharon.bunyan ||
 * Tom Bryker || spankey1990 ||