This document outlines a presentation about using Mystery Skype calls between classrooms. It discusses the rules and structure of Mystery Skype, including only allowing yes/no questions and having student jobs like question askers. Example jobs and structures used in one teacher's classroom are provided. The document also discusses exploring other Mystery Skype options like Mystery Number Skype or animal inquiries. It encourages signing up for Skype Classroom to find lessons and make connections with other teachers.

1. So You Want To Mystery
Skype?
Odyssey 2014 - School District #35
February 21, 2014
Victoria Olson

2. About Me & Contact
Grade 3/4 & Side-by-Side Technology Teacher
Digital Literacy Coach - West Langley Elementary
UBC Master of Educational Technology Grad Student
EdTech Mentorship Network Lead Mentor
Twitter: @MsVictoriaOlson
Google+: plus.google.com/+VictoriaOlson
Email: volson@sd35.bc.ca
Blog: techteacheronamission.com

3. Housekeeping
Tweet to: #odyssey14 or #think35
Fill out this form to get your session handout
emailed to you: goo.gl/unJA1i (Case
Sensitive!)
Link to today’s presentation slides:

4. Outline for today’s
session:
- Prepare for Mystery Skype with a
high school teacher from…
somewhere!
- Do that Mystery Skype call
- Reflect and discuss
- Explore other Mystery Skype options
- Sign up for Skype Classroom, explore
Skype lessons, and make a
connection

5. Just what is
this Mystery
Skype thing?

6. THE RULES
1.
Only “yes” or “no” questions are allowed.
2.
You need to take turns answering and asking
questions.
3.
EVERYONE must be contributing in some way.

7. Some Resources…
Notebooks/pens
Atlases/Maps
iPads (provided if necessary)
Your own devices

8. Let’s Pick Some
Jobs!
What jobs would be
beneficial to split into before
we begin?

9. Skype Time!

10. What worked and what didn’t?
What types of jobs do you think kids should be
doing for Mystery Skype?
Discuss with a small group or a partner the pros and cons
of your experiences
As a group, head on over to goo.gl/V5Mnel on one of
your devices to document your thinking digitally on the
Padlet walls for our session

11. Structures & Jobs in my
class…
Speakers
Recorders
Question Developers
Social Media Team
Runners (including a Chief
Runner)
Atlas Team
Google Maps team
(iPads/latptops)
Map minders

12. Pernille Ripp Shares…
Pernille’s post on how to Mystery Skype with your class:
http://goo.gl/PiZf3v
Good questions to ask: http://goo.gl/b6HYLD
Revised jobs (student-created): http://goo.gl/HlGwfe
Learning and Leading article:
http://goo.gl/ESo5qX

13. Asking Effective Questions

14. Some Other Options for
Mystery Skype
Mystery Number Skype
Inquiry… on anything! If Kindergarten students
can do it, can’t we?
How two other classrooms are doing this at West
Langley Elementary…

15. Mystery Number Skype
Each group has one or more Mystery
numbers the other class has to guess
Use mathematical questioning principles
to structure call
I.e. Odd or even, multiples of, place
value, factors
Support materials can include hundreds
charts (paper/felts and/or pocket charts),
number lines, math apps (Hands-on
Math)

16. Animal Inquiry Mystery Skype
Each class has a mystery animal and has to ask
and answer questions to learn features of the
other animal
Primary adaptations can include: increased
teacher direction, “Same/Different” signs,
designated question askers/answerers, and turn
taking (increase prep work with kids and not as
much adapted to “in the moment” by students to
decrease the overwhelming nature of the activity)
Supports include previous library research,
classroom literature, simple web searches and
Wikis, WorldBookKids

17. Any Other Ways You Can
Integrate This Idea?

18. Sign up for Skype Classroom!
Check out education.skype.com
Click “Join” or “Sign In” if you already have a Skype Classroom
account
Skype Classroom is different than Skype. If you already have a
Skype account, you can join using your Skype account name
Make/Sign-in on your account and build your profile
Browse Skype lessons, including Mystery Skype
Make a connection with another teacher

20. Thank you for participating!
Reminder to fill out this form to get
your handout with links from today’s
session: goo.gl/unJA1i
Twitter: @MsVictoriaOlson
Google+: plus.google.com/+VictoriaOlson
Email: volson@sd35.bc.ca
Blog: techteacheronamission.com