Slack + Appear.in

Slack is a free, real-time messaging, archiving/search tool in use by 5.8 million weekly active users. It uses channels to organize conversations, which are then threaded together. You can create any channels you might need, which means you could have one for each grade level or department, one for planning social events, one for the technology department, etc. You can add documents, video, audio, graphics, and URLs to any Slack message, which makes it perfect for sharing information quickly.

Blend a variety of video conferencing options. Stay in touch with video with one of these add-ins:

• Appear.in: Provides for eight call participants, and you can use the /appear slash command to start a video conference in your channel, making it easy for others to join the call.
• Google Hangouts: Start a Hangout with /hangout in any channel to get a link to share with others. A Slack control panel will appear and you can invite other Slack team members to the video conference.
• VideoLink2.Me: This offers audio/video conferences with file and screen sharing directly in your web browser. It supports six or more people, depending on the users’ internet bandwidth and connection speed. Use the /videolink slash command to create a conference room and share its link to your channel.

Microsoft's Skype in the Classroom

Whether it's virtual field trips, Skype lessons, Skype Collaborations, Mystery Skypes, or Guest Speakers like authors, the Microsoft Education Community can help you get started. The Educator Community provides video tutorials, printable guides, and lessons you can rely on. Visit the Skype in the Classroom resource at education.microsoft.com to get started.

The Skype in the Classroom folks have taken great pains to make speakers available for you to meet and problems for your students to solve (e.g. sea turtle conservation, climate change, nuclear fallout).

Strategy: Virtual Exchanges

A virtual exchange involves connecting students online over a shared project. Teachers around the world are using tools like Skype in the Classroom, Google Hangouts, and Zoom to teach their students how to collaborate and connect with international communities.

Strategies

1. Create a school hashtag to build a global presence and organize activities (#BUCSeveryday)
2. Create a global conversation around student work (such as the K-12 Global Art Project)
3. Enable students to research wonders or problems in their community, then share that with others around the globe live or via YouTube.

Strategy: Virtual Field Trips & Mystery Skype/Hangouts

Ready to take your students on virtual field trips? Be sure to review the Skype in the Classroom Getting Started Guide or connect with others using Google Hangouts in Education.

There are many types of connections possible. For example:

• Fight Stereotypes with Mystery Skype
• Second Grade Culture Exchange, an eighth grade class in Minnesota interested in a Mystery Hangout, and a third grade Spanish-speaking class.
• Mystery Hangout: Mystery Hangout is a social game played with two groups of students. It's a mix of Battleships and 20 questions.

As you might imagine, the possibilities are endless for connecting with educators passionate to unite globally, and what a great opportunity for your students.

Skype makes global learning possible while empowering students to play a part in solving some of the world’s problems. These teachers are taking their students on the ultimate field trip with Skype and inspiring them to make a difference.

Sign up to Skype in the classroom to connect with educators across the world: http://spr.ly/SkypeEducates