Mystery Skype

Mystery Skype Rules

- Everyone needs to open up the following tabs on their computer:

This tab to see your job
Today's Google Doc (see below)
A blank tab that you will use for Google searches
Our spreadsheet of questions and answers

- Google Doc rules:

Keep the font size, color, and style the same
Don't use the chat feature or the comment field
Only write your question once until it's our turn again

Mystery Skype Roles

During the Energy Debates, students were actually auditioning for roles in our upcoming Mystery Skypes! Students have been chosen based on their 21st Century Skills for each of the following roles. They will remain in these roles for a few rounds, and then we will switch.

Here are the jobs:

Researchers (Everyone): 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 computer. Come up with questions to ask the other class by adding them to the Google Doc. We can use Google Maps, Google Earth, search engines, and any other tools that will help you find where they are located that is allowed at our school. (Everyone does this in addition to their other role.)
Greeters: Greet the partner school/makes initial introduction. Offers the other school a chance to introduce themselves & ask the 1st question. Be specific by stating our own names and introducing the sharers by name and the questioners by name. (2-3 students)
Sharers: Share something special about our school, city, or state. It could be a song/dance, souvenir, but nothing that will give anything away. Feel free to practice this before you have to do it for real. (2-3 students)
Questioners: Ask the other school questions that help us learn their whereabouts. You are responsible for keeping the conversation going. Questions are kept on our 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). (3 students)

Questioners' Assistants: Whenever the Questioners need the Researchers to do anything, it is your job to quietly ask the Researchers to do it. 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."). (2-4 students)
Photographers: Responsible for taking lots and lots of high-quality photos while everyone is working. When the Mystery Skype is over, it is important to upload the pictures to our Daily Photo Journal. (2-3 students)
Videographers: 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! (2-3 students)

Data Enterers: Enter questions and answers into our Google Form. (The entries will appear in the Mystery Skype spreadsheet. This is important because we will need to look at our previous questions and answers to make sure we don't repeat anything! (2 students - one for our Q&A's, one for their Q&A's)

Closers: 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. (2-3 students)
Signers: Create signs that tell the other class whose turn it is. Hold up those signs at appropriate times during the Mystery Skype. Signs we've used in the past include: "Your Turn," "Our Turn - Please wait while we prepare," and "Great Job!" (2 students)
Task Masters: 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)
Linkers: 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. (2+ students)
Google Doc Cleaner-Upper: Take out unnecessary tables, spaces, returns, etc. to make sure our Google Doc stays neat and clean.
Question Focuser: 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.

So what is a Mystery Skype? Well, check out these articles to get a better idea:

Suggestions for making our Google Spreadsheet better:

Use capital letters and correct end punctuation.
Start each question with a "Q:" and each answer with an "A:".

See our spreadsheet with questions and answers, here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvsdG6QMWIEMdHU3STdpMHBqOTlGYXYwZFpVR0xEekE&usp=sharing