Pros and Cons of Skype

There are many benefits to using the program Skype in educational settings. It can help promote collaborated learning through the use of the internet. Skype allows professors to interact with students without being in the same space. This means professors can teach students from anywhere, which is beneficial because it eliminates the need for professors to travel to where the students are located. They simply need to both connect to the internet at the same time and have a webcam and microphone. Skype could be used to lecture students in a more convenient way for the professor, and therefore would be helpful in classroom settings.

While Skype could be useful in education, it has drawbacks as well. It may be useful for professors to lecture through Skype, but it also gives them less control over their students. Since it is difficult for the professor to hear students unless they speak into the microphone, the professor would not know if side conversations were going on in the back, limiting knowledge from being gained. It is also difficult for professors to lead discussions through Skype. Therefore, Skype is best used for one on one communication.