Skype to Be...

Skype is a phenomenal tool.
I have used it on mission trips, catching up with friends - it helps people to connect. 

So why not use it in a classroom?
Earlier in my posts, I mentioned a program that connected different schools and cultures and learning environments.  Skype could easily be used to connect with these foreign people and culture.

But what if I'm not in a school system that supports (or can afford) such a program?

Well, I am personally blessed with an immensely divesified family.
On my unit on Australia or marsupials, etc., I could use Skype to call or webchat with my uncle and aunt who live there.  She could show us around her spectacular garden.  They could both talk about the enviornment they live in.  The kids would love their accents.

Or when I do a unit on Civil Rights or oppression in history, I could tie it into apartheid South Africa.  I could skype with my dad who grow up in Rhodesia, another country that struggled with white/black prejudice and oppression or I could talk to my cousin who grew up during the new era of Nelson Mandela. 

The possibilities are endless - all I need is a reliable internet connection... right?