LimetartTV - Webcam Project 2014-2019

Connecting via Skype webcam

As part of a unique initiative in 2014, class 34G / 4E connected and collaborated on a daily basis with Year 4 students from Clairgate Public School using a webcam in their classroom.

Students were trained in the appropriate use of the webcam to enable them to responsibly participate in Book Week activities with their Clairgate buddies. Each student spent around 15 minutes per fortnight chatting to his or her Clairgate buddy, getting to know them and completing engaging and collaborative activities together.

Using Skype In A NSWDoE Classroom

Courtesy: James Rudd (Sydney Boys High School Network Administrator)

  1. AT HOME – not at school - Download full Skype from Here: http://download.skype.com/SkypeSetupFull.exe
  2. Save that file to a USB stick and bring it to school
  3. After install it prompts you to login, instead click Tool → Connection Options
  4. Type in a random port for incoming connections (for example: 25789)
    1. Make sure use port 80… is ticked
    2. Choose Proxy HTTPS
    3. Type in “proxy.det.nsw.edu.au” port 8080
    4. Type in your DET username and password
  5. Restart Skype.
  6. Login to your Skype account.
  7. Test correct operation by calling the Skype Echo / Sound Test Service

How Skype works within a private network (e.g. NSWDoE)

The service allows users to communicate with peers by voice using a microphone, video by using a webcam, and instant messaging over the Internet. Phone calls may be placed to recipients on the traditional telephone networks. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free of charge, while calls to landline telephones and mobile phones are charged via a debit-based user account system. Skype has also become popular for its additional features, including file transfer, and videoconferencing. Competitors include SIP and H.323-based services, such as Linphone,[11] as well as the Google Talk service, Mumble and Hall.com.

If two Skype participants are located within the same private network (NSWDoE for example), then their 'presence status' and connection have to be mediated by the Skype network via the public internet, but following successful connection, the audio and video data traffic travels direct - that is, 'peer to peer', completely within the private LAN.

Permission Notes