Skype Announces Collaboration with Prominent Organizations to Further Empower Teachers with Educational Resources through Technology

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Helping to educate and inspire the next generation of thinkers, Skype joins forces with Penguin Group, New York Philharmonic, Science Museum London, Peace One Day, and Save the Children to provide teachers with educational content and access to expert speakers via video calling. This collaboration marks Skype's latest initiative to reach its goal of connecting one million classrooms globally through Skype in the classroom, a free online community that helps teachers use Skype to enrich experiences for students.

"Skype in the classroom is excited to collaborate with stellar, like-minded organizations to bring relevant content directly to innovative teachers who are looking to create unforgettable shared learning experiences for their students," said Tony Bates, president of the Skype Division at Microsoft. "We are dedicated to making education accessible via technology, and will continue to look for ways to remove barriers to communications and connect to classrooms across the globe."

Skype in the classroom strives to enrich students' learning experiences to discover new cultures, languages and ideas without leaving the classroom.  Skype in the classroom now features each individual organization's dynamic content, projects and available guest speakers, including:

• Penguin Young Readers Group will connect authors, such as Adam Gidwitz, Caroline Lawrence and Nancy Krulik, with students for discussions about books, reading and writing;  
• The New York Philharmonic offers live interaction with musicians and educators, beginning with an exploration of Billy the Kid -the man and the legend- through the lens of Aaron Copland's 1939 ballet;
• Registered teachers have the opportunity to link directly to the free Skype supported Peace One Day Global Education Resources and to inspire and educate their students about the importance of peace in the modern world. Students can also connect with Peace One Day Founder, Jeremy Gilley and listen to his inspirational story, questioning him on all aspects of his incredible journey to institutionalize Peace Day, 21 September;
• Save the Children and the Science Museum, London will have individual projects on Skype in the classroom by the end of the year.

"As a global leader in children's publishing, we are thoroughly committed to seeding a student's growing mind and help them fulfill their dreams," said Pearson Foundation President and CEO Mark Nieker, "We are honored to collaborate with Skype in the classroom as we understand the monumental impact we can offer teacher's educational curriculum."

With more than 28,000 registered teachers and counting, in over 190 countries, Skype in the classroom has enabled hundreds of thousands of students around the world to take part in valuable shared learning experiences. Skype offers an immediate way to help students discover new cultures, languages and ideas, all without leaving the classroom. Through programs such as this and its work with Donors Choose, The Education Foundation and Peace One Day, Skype in the classroom supports Microsoft's commitment to create opportunities for youth through technology, training, and experiences that empower them to imagine and realize their full potential and make a real impact for a better tomorrow.

To join Skype in the classroom and view these exclusive resources, teachers should:

1. Sign up at education.skype.com using their Skype account details
2. Create a profile which includes their interests, location and the age groups they teach
3. Once complete, teachers will have full range to explore the Skype in the classroom organization microsites, utilize vast content from these organizations and engage in conversations with select guest experts.

For more information or to register for Skype in the classroom, please visit http://education.skype.com.

About Skype:
Skype is communications software whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they're apart. Founded in 2003 and based in Luxembourg, Skype is a division of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). Skype can be downloaded onto computers, mobile phones and other connected devices for free at www.skype.com.

About Penguin Group:
Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children's trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Viking, G. P. Putnam's Sons, The Penguin Press, Riverhead Books, Dutton, Penguin Books, Berkley Books, Gotham Books, Portfolio, New American Library, Plume, Tarcher, Philomel, Grosset & Dunlap, Puffin, and Frederick Warne, among others. The Penguin Group (http://www.penguin.com) is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.

About the New York Philharmonic:
Founded in 1842, the New York Philharmonic is the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States and one of the oldest in the world; on May 5, 2010, it performed its 15,000th concert. Music Director Alan Gilbert began his tenure in September 2009, succeeding a distinguished line of 20th-century musical giants going back to Gustav Mahler and Arturo Toscanini. Renowned around the globe, the Philharmonic has appeared in 431 cities in 63 countries — including the February 2008 historic visit to Pyongyang, DPRK. The Orchestra, which appears annually on Live From Lincoln Center on PBS, has made nearly 2,000 recordings since 1917, with more than 500 currently available, in addition to more than 50 live concerts available as downloads. Credit Suisse is the exclusive Global Sponsor of the New York Philharmonic.

About Peace One Day:
The Peace One Day campaign led a process that resulted in the unanimous adoption by UN member states of the first ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence on 21 September, Peace Day. The day has already been proved as a window of opportunity for life-saving activities in areas of conflict. Jeremy Gilley travelled to Afghanistan with Peace One Day ambassador Jude Law to spearhead a campaign that has resulted in the vaccination against polio of 4.5 million children due to Peace Day agreements since 2007. On Peace Day 2008 in Afghanistan, the UN Department of Safety and Security announced a 70% reduction in violent incidents. Peace Day has also become a catalyst for civil society activities in every country of the world; involving an estimated 100 million people by Peace Day 2007 (source UNDPI).These successes, and others around the world, have led Gilley to launch the Global Truce 2012 campaign, calling for a day of ceasefire and non-violence on Peace Day 2012.  It is hoped this will be the largest global reduction of violence ever recorded on one day – Peace Day 21 September 2012 – a world record, and the largest ever gathering of individuals in the name of peace.  Please visit www.peaceoneday.org or www.facebook.com/peaceoneday 

About the Science Museum, London:
The Science Museum's collections form an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical change from the past. Aiming to be the best place in the world for people to enjoy science, the Science Museum makes sense of the science that shapes our lives, sparking curiosity, releasing creativity and changing the future by engaging people of all generations and backgrounds in science, engineering, medicine, technology, design and enterprise. www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

About Save the Children:
Save the Children is the leading, independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Contacts:
Skype
Andrew Schmidt
[email protected]

Kaplow for Skype
Jennifer Myers
[email protected]
(212) 221-1713

SOURCE Skype