Feb 27, 2011 21:41 GMT  ·  By

Skype is used in countless ways all over the world, and to encourage teachers to rely on this VoIP, a new service called Skype in the Classroom has just been launched.

Currently in beta version, this new project aims to help educators “discover new cultures and connect with classes from around the world.”

It will function like an online directory created for teachers who are willing to use Skype to bring innovation to their classes.

First of all, teachers will need to sign in with their Skype account, then create a profile that will mention their interests, specialities and location.

After this, they can simply explore the community and find teachers that might help them or whom they can be of use to.

This way, educators can get in touch with people who share their interests or who can help them develop professionally.

As mentioned on their dedicated webpage, “Skype in the classroom was created in response to – and in consultation with – the growing number of teachers using Skype to help their students learn.”

Furthermore, this service was “designed to help like-minded teachers find each other and share inspiration and resources.”

Skype team even offers educators suggestions as to the ways this service can be employed in their classrooms.

For instance, students can practice their language skills by engaging in real-life conversations with children from another country.

They will be able to interact with native speakers and improve their pronunciation without even realizing it, along with their vocabulary, with no need to resort to any type of exercises.

Since it is in beta stage, developers are still working on improving Skype in the Classroom and adding it new features.

This is why user feedback is of great importance, teachers are the ones encouraged to share their impressions and ideas so as to contribute to creating a more productive tool.