Here are some different roles for students during a Skype session:
Researchers (everyone):
LEADERSHIP ROLES
HELPER ROLES
ORGANIZED / INDEPENDENT ROLES
INTERACTIVE / CREATIVE ROLES
Retired Roles
Artifact Presenters (2-3 students): Present an "artifact" that represents something special about school, city, or state. It could be a song/dance, souvenir, item, etc, but nothing that will give anything away. Feel free to practice this before you have to do it for real.
- This is the most important job and one that everyone needs to do. Looking up the answers to questions we are asked when we don't know how to answer them by memory. Everyone needs an atlas and a device. Come up with questions to ask the other class by adding them to the shared Google Doc. Other resources include Google Earth and Google Maps, and of course, Google search!
LEADERSHIP ROLES
- Class Ambassadors (1-2 students): These students are responsible for greeting the partner school and making an initial introduction, be specific by stating your first names, our class (Mrs. Long's 7th grade). Ambassadors should offer the other school a chance to introduce themselves & ask the 1st question or do rock, paper, scissors to determine order! Clarify how we are playing the game: alterantive turns? asking yes/no questions? Guess just the country/state or would you like to also try for the town? Finally, repeat who is going first and introduce who will be our first questioner! Make sure that you point and address the student so they know who to expect!
- Questioners (3-4 students): Ask the other school questions that help us learn their whereabouts. You are responsible for keeping the conversation going. Questions are kept on our shared Google Doc, so all Questioners can see them and so others in the room can have their questions asked. Be aware of whose turn it is to ask questions (ours or theirs), and be quick to decide our question when it is our turn (be reading the Google Doc while the other team is thinking or speaking).
- Teacher’s Helpers (1-2 students): Walk around and VERY NICELY help people stay on task. You may need to show some kids how to do things online, so be willing to be a teacher! Don't do anything silly in front of the camera! (2-4 students)
- Responders (2-3 students): First, your job is to respond to the other team's questions! Walk up to the camera, wait for their question. When you know the answer, say " [yes/no] and repeat the question" For example: "No, we are not west of the Mississippi River"
HELPER ROLES
- Questioners' Assistants: Whenever the Questioners need assistance, like for the Researchers to look something up, it is your job to quietly ask. Be specific with what you are asking for (e.g. "The Questioners need a question. Let's try to narrow down which part of the state they live in."). You are also responsible for helping the questioners stay on task and in order. You will have to quietly get up and circulate the room, your job is to get the task done without interrupting the flow of the conversation!
- Closers (1-2 students): You should prepare 5-10 interested things to share about Maryland! Wrap up the Mystery Skype by thanking the other class and asking some questions that show an interest in their school. If we have time, try to see if we have any interests in common and maybe we can connect with them again in the future. Share our class "hashtag" with them #MrsLongsClasses and encourage them to check out our Twitter or Instagram!
- Cleaning Crew (1-2 students): Watch the Google Doc for "messes." Take out unnecessary tables, spaces, returns, etc. to make sure our Google Doc stays neat and clean.
- Question Guide (1-2 students): Watch the Google Doc and help those who are asking questions that are not possible or too specific. Walk up to them and work with them to make questions better.
ORGANIZED / INDEPENDENT ROLES
- Data Collectors (2-4 students): Your job is very important! You enter the questions going back and forth between our classes. You can take turns so you don't get overwhelmed, but be sure to write the question AND the answer in the right section on the form. (The entries will appear in the Mystery Skype spreadsheet). Submit the form AFTER each round so that your classmates’ can track questions asked and answered. This is important because we will need to look at our previous questions and answers to make sure we don't repeat anything!
- Connectors (2-3 students): While you are researching, add links to the Google Doc for others to see the great resources that you find. Encourage others to add links that will help people as well. To add a link you will need to know commands like CONTROL+K to add a link, CONTROL +C to copy, and CONTROL+V to paste.
INTERACTIVE / CREATIVE ROLES
- Reporters (2-3 students): You are responsible for "live tweeting" during the event or writing the wrap up blog. If you are "live tweeting" you should be focusing on what we are doing, questions, discoveries, fun facts, kudos, etc. If you are "blogging," log in to your KIDBLOGS and create a new post. The title should be "Class Skype [the date]." You (and your partner, if you have one) keep a summary of the session like a reporter would writing about the big game! Include key details, some questions and answers, and reactions. By the end we should have a nice "recap" or "Skype in review." TAG your post SKYPE.
- Photographers (1-2 students): Responsible for taking high-quality photos while everyone is working. Use the class device or your own, and when the mystery skype is over add your photos to the shared DRIVE folder. If you want, you can also share them through Instagram using the hashtag #MrsLongsClasses or tagging MrsLongFCPS.
- Videographers (1-2 students): Use the class flip camera or your own device. You are responsible for videotaping the entire event, especially the dialogue between schools. Never press PAUSE! The only time you should have the video camera on the projection is when they are talking to us. The rest of the time you should get us working. Also, it cannot be so shaky - move slowly from one place to the next. Don't zoom in and out - there's no need for it!
Retired Roles
Artifact Presenters (2-3 students): Present an "artifact" that represents something special about school, city, or state. It could be a song/dance, souvenir, item, etc, but nothing that will give anything away. Feel free to practice this before you have to do it for real.