Chem321:Using Skype

Many discussions in Chemistry 321 will be held using Skype. This page details the instructions on setting up for a Skype discussion.

Getting your computer set up

Be sure to download the Skype software, and carry out the audio test to make sure it’s working correctly. You may wish to look at the getting started on Skype help page. You will also need either

• Headphones that have a microphone, or
• A computer that has a microphone and speakers

If you don’t have either of these for the first discussion, you can still participate, but only by typing into the instant messaging system. Note that – unlike most software - Skype is normally switched on (in the background) by default, the idea being that contacts can see if you’re online or not. To switch it off you have to right-click on the icon and select “Quit Skype”.

Connecting our Skype accounts

Before we can hold our first discussion using Skype, I need to get each one of you listed as a contact. For that, I will need your Skype name – my Skype name is martin_walker1, by the way. So please send me your Skype account name, then I will send you a contact request. Once you have accepted this request (please!), you should see my icon listed, and if I am online you will see a green splotch next to my name. This goes white if I go offline. Likewise, I will also see your name when I look at my Skype page.

Taking part in a Skype discussion

Just before the specified discussion time, make sure that you’re connected to the internet and logged into your Skype account. You can’t usually use a dial-up connection, you need a full broadband connection. At the start time I will call each of you in turn, and all you have to do is to accept the call (which is just like a phone call). If you have a problem getting Skype launched or seeing my icon, please send me an email at walkerma@potsdam.edu. If your internet connection is down, please leave a voicemail on my college phone at +1(315) 2680234.

As well as the audio discussion, Skype includes an instant messaging (IM) box which you can use if you wish to share a web link, an email address, or other text. You may also post comments (polite & clean!) on there if you wish. Skype occasionally has problems caused by the high bandwidth, particularly with international connections – sometimes one user in a group has problems hearing another user, yet everyone else can hear them perfectly. This is just a quirk of the system, and fortunately much rarer than it used to be. You may also find that people’s voices are a little distorted. We will stick to an audio discussion for now, as this is simpler and more reliable, but if participants wish we may be able to hold a video discussion.

Supporting the discussion

An audio discussion is much more dynamic than a typed discussion, but unfortunately it leaves no record to review later. For some discussions, I will use the wiki or EtherPad (a more powerful IM system) to allow you to post comments as text rather than as audio; some discussions may be done as text only. The method used for any discussion will be posted on the wiki in advance, along with the discussion topic.