Bridging the Gap with Distance Learning

Why Video Conferencing? Increased access to educational resources Increased access to educational resources Flexibility for the learner Flexibility for the learner Equity in opportunities for both teachers and students Equity in opportunities for both teachers and students Valuable interchange with the “outside world” Valuable interchange with the “outside world” Virtual schools – fastest growing educational movement of the early 21 st century Virtual schools – fastest growing educational movement of the early 21 st century

Adding Value to the Classroom Enables students to access otherwise unavailable classes Enables students to access otherwise unavailable classes Broadens students’ view of the world Broadens students’ view of the world Increases student motivation for learning Increases student motivation for learning Enriches the existing curriculum Enriches the existing curriculum Provides just-in-time learning environments Provides just-in-time learning environments

Who Can Benefit from VC? Teachers Teachers Administrators Administrators Communities Communities STUDENTS! STUDENTS!

NISD Examples Staff Development Staff Development Distance Graduate Classes Distance Graduate Classes MSUMSU UNTUNT Virtual Field Trips Virtual Field Trips Camp Taji, IraqCamp Taji, Iraq Live From the HeartLive From the Heart Expert Presenters Expert Presenters Forensic ScientistForensic Scientist Eggs, Eggs EverywhereEggs, Eggs Everywhere

Current Examples Live From the Heart Live From the Heart Amazing Adaptations Amazing Adaptations Bison: Back from the Brink Bison: Back from the Brink Bison: Back from the Brink Bison: Back from the Brink The Night Shift The Night Shift Visit with Jim Stovall (author) Visit with Jim Stovall (author) Pen Pals with Camp Taji, Iraq soldiers Pen Pals with Camp Taji, Iraq soldiers Stories and the American West Stories and the American West Texas Bird’s Eye View Texas Bird’s Eye View Tuxedo Junction: Penguins Tuxedo Junction: Penguins

Current Examples To Infinity and Beyond! To Infinity and Beyond! Oh, It’s About to Snow! Oh, It’s About to Snow! Let’s Get Together! Let’s Get Together! Becoming the Author of Your Own Life Becoming the Author of Your Own Life Nocturnal Animals Nocturnal Animals Ecology Exploration Ecology Exploration Sailing into Thanksgiving Sailing into Thanksgiving Microbes Microbes Recipe for Soil Recipe for Soil

Virtual Field Trips Faster and Cheaper Faster and Cheaper Take your students: Take your students: into the tank of a famous aquariuminto the tank of a famous aquarium across a remote field to a protected salt marshacross a remote field to a protected salt marsh into the control room of a NASA reflector telescopeinto the control room of a NASA reflector telescope into the operating room to watch a live open heart surgeryinto the operating room to watch a live open heart surgery

Interactive Student Projects Extend cooperative learning experiences Extend cooperative learning experiences Allows students to work with others from different cultures and backgrounds around the globe Allows students to work with others from different cultures and backgrounds around the globe Use of laptop, document camera, and live camera to communicate and share projects Use of laptop, document camera, and live camera to communicate and share projects

Interactive Groups Student Council and other leadership programs Student Council and other leadership programs Debate Teams Debate Teams Theatre Groups Theatre Groups Musical Performances Musical Performances Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity Art Studies Art Studies Math Team Competitions Math Team Competitions

Staff Development Attend meetings Attend meetings Attend trainings Attend trainings Collaborate with other teachers Collaborate with other teachers Continue formal education Continue formal education Observe other classrooms/students Observe other classrooms/students

Pre-Planning Considerations Curriculum Integration Curriculum Integration Equipment/Facilities Equipment/Facilities Support Support Providers Providers Costs Costs Scheduling Scheduling Time Zone Differences Time Zone Differences Materials Materials

Preparing for a VC Class 1. Review the class syllabus, making sure it meets students’ needs 2. Check class times (time zones) and student availability 3. Confirm costs for the class 4. Find out what materials are required and supplied by provider 5. Allot a period of time to familiarize students with the technology

Preparing for a VC Class 6. Prepare yourself to use and support the VC technology 7. Check into the reliability of the remote teacher and program 8. Consider students who are unable to participate due to permissions for name/photo projection 9. Confirm a test connection has/will be made prior to the actual VC 10. Have a backup plan in place

VC Evaluations or Assessments Observations collected during the VC to determine interactivity Observations collected during the VC to determine interactivity Journal writing Journal writing Interactive student surveys Interactive student surveys Sharing of survey results Sharing of survey results Class presentations Class presentations Post-activities or projects Post-activities or projects

Instructional Design Lesson Objectives Lesson Objectives Objectives for VC Interaction Objectives for VC Interaction Introductions Introductions Presentation of Information Presentation of Information Activities Activities Assessment Assessment

Instructional Strategies The greater the number of students involved in a VC, the less opportunity they have to interact with each other. The greater the number of students involved in a VC, the less opportunity they have to interact with each other. Ask students to write down questions ahead of time. Ask students to write down questions ahead of time. Model interactive behavior. Model interactive behavior. Give students time to adjust. Give students time to adjust. Mute the mic when not speaking. Mute the mic when not speaking. Call on students to answer questions. Call on students to answer questions.

Presentation Strategies When speaking, project your voice. When speaking, project your voice. Make an effort to enunciate clearly. Make an effort to enunciate clearly. Maintain consistent and equal eye contact with both groups. Look into the camera’s eye, not the screen. Maintain consistent and equal eye contact with both groups. Look into the camera’s eye, not the screen. Be animated when you present and use normal hand gestures, but move slowly. Be animated when you present and use normal hand gestures, but move slowly. Be mindful of your body language. Be mindful of your body language.

Participant Etiquette No eating, drinking or chewing gum. No eating, drinking or chewing gum. Do not hog the microphone. Do not hog the microphone. Be aware that you are seen and heard at all times. Be aware that you are seen and heard at all times. Raise your hand to speak at all times. Raise your hand to speak at all times. Allow time for audio and visual to travel – several seconds at least. Allow time for audio and visual to travel – several seconds at least. Allow wait time in addition to lag time. Allow wait time in addition to lag time.

I’m Ready To Begin…Now What? NISD’s Instructional Technology has developed a procedure by which all video conferences must be scheduled. NISD Video Conference Procedures NISD Video Conference Procedures

Equipment - The DL Cart Each campus DL cart is equipped with the following: Each campus DL cart is equipped with the following: LaptopLaptop Document cameraDocument camera Tandberg Unit – camera and brainsTandberg Unit – camera and brains Remote ControlRemote Control All Cords NeededAll Cords Needed

Connecting the DL Cart Network CableNetwork Cable Power CordPower Cord Audio PlugsAudio Plugs Auxiliary CableAuxiliary Cable Do not disconnect anything from the top or inside of the cart.

References Cole, C., Ray K., Zanetis, J. (2004) Videoconferencing for K-12 Classrooms. ISTE. Eugene, OR Conference%20Academy 0Conference%20Academy

Bridging the Gap with Distance Learning