Nebraska Change Agent
' I am entirely certain that twenty years from now we will look back at education as it is practiced in most schools today and wonder how we could have tolerated anything so primitive.' John W Gardner
Feb
13
Skype Blocked? How to Build a Case to Fix That
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Beth Still on February 13, 2010
I am always amazed at the discrepancies between schools when it comes to filtering policies. Some schools take a “block everything” approach then unblock sites as needed while other schools do the exact opposite and only block sites as needed. No matter what the case may be it is important for districts to have a clear and transparent procedure for teachers to follow when they want a site unblocked.
One of the most useful sites that seems to be blocked at many schools is Skype. Since Skype is an app that must to be downloaded to a computer, I am having a little bit of difficulty understanding why it is not available to teachers. When I put out a feeler on Twitter the other day asking why it was blocked the most common response was that it takes too much bandwidth. I am no tech expert by any means, but after reading this article that Paul R. Wood shared with me then I am not so sure that is a legitimate reason.
When used properly Skype can transform a classroom. Teachers can use it to connect their classroom with other classrooms or to bring in special guests. There is really no limit to number of ways Skype can help tear down the walls of a classroom.
But what if it is blocked? If your district does not have a procedure for how to go about requesting that a site be unblocked then you will need to email your principal and the IT department. Make sure you include the following pieces of information in your request:
- URL of the site to which you want access
- Rationale for why you want it blocked
- Detailed explanation of how you will use it in class including the educational benefits
- Date by which you would like the site open
- Examples of how the site has been used by other teachers
- List any known concerns along with a possible solution
I hope that you use this post as a reference if you are currently trying to gain access to Skype in your district. Listed below are dozens of ways Skype has been used and this is by no means an exhaustive list. If you have more examples of how Skype can be used then please share them by leaving a comment. Even is your experience was less than satisfactory we still would like to hear about it. We learn just as much from the negative experiences as the positive ones.
What is Skype?
Skype (pronounced /ˈskaip/) is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet. Calls to other users of the service and, in some countries, to free-of-charge numbers, are free, while calls to other landlines and mobile phones can be made for a fee. Additional features include instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype)
Genuine concerns with using Skype:
Genuine concerns with using Skype:
shoewee How do districts deal with the archiving of information required by law when using Skype?
jeanbont @bethstill My district is concerned about bandwidth consumption issues 
geraldaungst @bethstill Same concern. They can’t control who teachers talk to and when. Might do that instead of their jobs, you know. geraldaungst @bethstill I think the worry is about unfiltered access to anything/anyone. Schools can’t control who kids contact.
kdumont @bethstill I think concerns listed by others is pretty accurate. We don’t block, but don’t promote for student use either. 
dmantz7 @bethstill Biggest issues I know of from IT side is bandwidth & peer-peer networking
amichetti @bethstill I’m really not sure. good question. But in countries like VN, bandwidth is a major logistical challenge to digital learning.
room214 @bethstill Some block skype as a category – it falls under peer to peer – that is based on how skype works How educators have used Skype in their classrooms:
Spreadsheet started by Jen Wagner. Contains nearly 100 responses on how educators are using Skype in their classrooms and if the experience was positive or not.
Spreadsheet started by Jen Wagner. Contains nearly 100 responses on how educators are using Skype in their classrooms and if the experience was positive or not.
tgwynn @bethstill I just noticed how you can now screenshare on skype. What a great way to help staff/Stdts. Similar to iChat 
langwitches @bethstill Created the following visual #caseforskype. Skills addressed with Skyping http://bit.ly/cITlA7
concretekax @bethstill about Judaism. Learning from a community their own age instead of a textbook rocks!
mbteach @bethstill #caseforskype: when trying to connect across oceans & continents, Skype works on all platforms (Mac/PC/etc..) & languages.
judiehaynes #caseforskype is a great way for kids to connect with classrooms in other countries.
careerday_2010 We are using Skype to have some people speak with our students on Career Day!
sapereaude @bethstill had Illinois poet lauret Kevin Stein skype into our 9th grade English Class. There was Q&A and students loved it! 
lindseycayer I use skype to have another class teach my students the sign language for our state song!
mhapich @bethstill My calculus students look for me on it to ask hw questions. i’ve been yelled at for being offline! 
j_allen How do you use Skype? http://jlwagner.pbworks.com/SKYPE Hope to get you some useful information (via @jenwagner) 
NMHS_Principal @bethstill Here you go Beth: “All Schools Should Skype” http://bit.ly/48fcWW
luc_germain RT @morsmal: Using Skype in the Classroom http://bit.ly/b4xcgU
gellesastar RT @morsmal: #skype in the classroom: resources. http://bit.ly/c2ZpR6
mrplough07 Use #caseforskype to walk my students thru projects n my online Web2 class. Many go on to use it to talk with friends/fam after course ends
spraguer RT @krs917: Classrooms collaborating using Skype, Google Docs, etc http://bit.ly/bRLIJ8
kusdiva I rely on #caseforskype to share info on water projects from Guatemala to students in the US. We compare water resources & cultural xchange.
bergerbe Using Skype to have an author or historian speak to your class and answer questions!
gellesastar #caseforskype: initial setup is quick and easy for all grade-level students
ELanghorst #caseforskype This is an example of how my class took a virtual field trip to Nat Const Center in Philly http://bit.ly/aRzHB7@bethstill
krs917 @bethstill Classrooms collaborating using Skype, Google Docs, etc 4 Mysteries of Harris Burdick http://bit.ly/bRLIJ8
gellesastar #caseforskype: students can practice speaking foreign language with students in neighboring schools or with students across the ocean.
PaulWHankins I have, since Garth Stein, been able to share Jennifer Brown (Hate List) and Jon Skovron (Struts and Frets) w/my students
gellesastar #caseforskype: Students met a German-speaking engineer and wanted to invite him to class so he “came to class” 15 mins later. Indelible!
morsmal #skype in the classroom: resources. http://bit.ly/c2ZpR6
morsmal 7 things you should know about #skype. http://bit.ly/aNTiQj
techforschools @bethstill 2day have college professor skyping in2 MS science class & sharing & discussing microscope views of meiosis/mitosis
morsmal Using Skype in the Classroom http://bit.ly/b4xcgU
Shaybert Impressive! RT @web20classroom @bethstill Stu able 2 connect w all their DC Elected reps-ea got to ask a ?? …very powerful!
coachpeterson We have used #Skype in Adv. Digital Media to interview experts in the field-which are hard to find in rural Nebraska.
wsouthteacher Our school Skypes with two sister schools, one in Tanzania and one in China, on a weekly basis. http://j.mp/cRMXAN
j_allen We’ve used Skype for a 2nd grader who is undergoing chemo treatments to check in with his class
techforschools @bethstill energy conservation debate between classes accross district.
dmantz7 @j_allen We have used Skype 2 teach class frm home, conduct scholarship interviews, interview Sen.Bob Dole, podcast interviews
jenikoch Students stayed connected with their teacher while in Japan on professional mission.
amandacdykes #caseforskype studied the jet stream 2 weeks ago& i had friend from England explain the climate there vs other areas@ same lati he had lived
profpoole #caseforskype Also a good way to get students in touch CHEAPLY with faraway guest speakers, both in online and in on-campus classes.
j_allen We’ve also used Skype to connect former stdts & teachers oversees w/current HS stdts to talk about dif governments.
profpoole #caseforskype Brilliant way to do real-time discussions and office hrs in online classes w/o shelling out $ for Elluminate.
j_allen We use Skype to connect 4th grade classes in NE http://bit.ly/aNDz16 to learn about dif regions. 
PCSTech @bethstill We used it to have a video conference between students from two elem. schools to pick a mascot. PaulWHankins We had Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain, via Skype, talk to my two AP sections. It was a neat interaction!
5 Responses to “Skype Blocked? How to Build a Case to Fix That”
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February 13th, 2010 at 6:18 p
Here are a few ways we have used skype http://tinyurl.com/yd59c89
A tip that might help some: even when skype is unblocked, kids can’t always get in, but if we set skype to open with the laptop, it avoids travel that might block it.
February 13th, 2010 at 6:49 p
Hi Beth,
I have bookmarked this post for future reference. I learned quite a bit of useful information about Skype that as an avid user I should probably know. The thing that intrigued me the most was that Skype doesn’t eat up bandwidth like I was told. Thanks for clearing up the muddied waters about Skype. It is a fabulous tool that every educator should know how to use and have access to so that they can connect their students to others.
February 13th, 2010 at 8:31 p
I was always under the impression that Skype took up lots of bandwidth, too. I was very surprised to learn otherwise. It is knowledge like this that teachers need to arm themselves with when making a proposal to have a site unblocked. I can completely understand schools not wanting to give kids free access to it, but teachers need to be able to use this tool in their classrooms. Thanks for your comment.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:54 p
We are using Skype to conduct Parent-Teacher conferences with military parents who are deployed. Other metro districts are even allowing parents who can’t make it to Skype in. Here is an article from Omaha World Herald:
http://www.omaha.com/article/20100215/NEWS01/100219735
March 9th, 2010 at 3:53 p
Great post! I’m an avid user of Skype and definitely agree that it should be used by more schools.