Microsoft hosts nationwide Skype and education event

Microsoft is hosting it's annual two day Skype-a-Thon on December 3-4 and inviting educators around the country to attend.

According to Microsoft, the event is designed to connecting classrooms around the world and showcase how technology can be used to enhance the learning experience.

Educators who attend can choose from a number of activities including speaking with an expert guest speaker on a topic their class is studying, and choosing to take their class on a virtual field trip.

Skype in the Classroom offers virtual trips on a number of topics, so students can learn about a variety of topics, from sea turtles to Western American art.

Educators can also connect with classrooms in other countries with #MysterySkype, a global guessing game that teaches kids geography, promotes cultural understanding and broadens perspectives, Microsoft says.

Anne Taylor, Microsoft New Zealand schools and academic programmes manager, says the Skype-a-thon is a unique opportunity for New Zealand schools to interact with and learn from other students from around the world, and share their own Kiwi educational experience with them.

"Microsoft's mission is to empower every student and teacher on the planet to achieve more.

"The Skype-a-thon is a perfect example of this, and will especially benefit those educators who recognise the value of taking innovative approaches to learning in the classroom," says Taylor.

Participants may be selected as one of 10 classrooms to be featured in the global Skype-a-Thon highlights video, which Microsoft will produce and share with their global educator community and beyond.