An Innovation for Learning

 Communication technology that integrates video and voice to connect remote users with each other  Allows students to participate in an interactive question answer session over live video, also known as visual collaboration  Brings students from all over the US together using technology pioneered by NASA  Serves as a medium for synchronous learning in distance education  Incorporates social networks like video, wiki, podcasts, instant message (IM), and more

Just one video conference can make a difference Video conference can bring a school partnership alive Increase knowledge retention by differentiating instruction Bridge cultural gaps Reach a wider student audience Enrich existing curriculum Link students from varied social, cultural, and economic backgrounds Motivate reluctant and struggling learners Involve guest speakers who would be unavailable for face to face lectures

Instruction Virtual Fieldtrips Multi-School Projects Professional Activities Community Events

 Students can take classes not offered at their school, like advanced placement, foreign language or music  Schools can offer classes during off-hours for students unable to attend traditional classes  Teachers can team-teach with remote teachers, share subject matter expertise or a unique approach to a topic  Librarians can offer introductions to library services and a tour before they come to the library  … and much more.

 Classes can communicate with experts in many fields to enhance understanding of a subject they are studying. For instance: ◦ Organize and moderate a panel discussion with a dolphin trainer, and animal rights activist for a unit on oceanography ◦ Interview the author of a book being read in class ◦ A remote teacher or student can role-play a historical or literary figure ◦ Students can watch a play performed at a remote site followed by interaction with the actors Students on the edge of their seats listening to ranger Jeff Barnes (Ms. Conover's room, Grange Middle School). Ms. Conover's 7th grade science class conversing with a State Park Ranger.

 Allows teachers and students to collaborate with schools throughout the district, across the country, or around the world  Schools known for outstanding programs or projects model those projects for other schools  Videoconferencing facilitates distributed cooperative learning, collaboration, and communication  Contests like spelling bees, debates and etc. can take place between two schools via two-way video

 Professional Activities via videoconference: ◦ Save time and money ◦ Students enrolled in teacher education courses can observe and critiques the teaching practices from a remote location ◦ Teachers can mentor new teachers with limited support in other districts ◦ Interviews, meetings, and presentations at conferences can take place via video ◦ “Just in time learning” from experts and trainers without having to leave the classroom  Community Events via videoconference: ◦ Supports public interest events ◦ Adult education for English learners, literacy, job training, etc. ◦ Town hall meetings, governments hearings, school board meetings and other government-related activities ◦ Virtual author tours

 Technical difficulties ◦ Software ◦ Hardware ◦ Network failures  Remote connections hampered by environmental changes  Delay on the sound that participants need to get accustomed to  Atmosphere of normal face-to-face meeting is lost  Instructor is unaware whether the audience is comfortable with his/her pace  Lack of personal interaction

 Access to long distance educational programs  Cost savings for travel, accommodations and staff time  Professionals and students can access: ◦ Lecture ◦ Study material ◦ Group discussions ◦ One to one talk with instructors  Helps stimulate brainstorming, knowledge, information sharing and gathering  Real-time interactive fieldtrips  Learn about cultural differences via videoconferencing

Software  Windows Live Messenger  Yahoo! Messenger with Voice  Sight Speed  GoToMeeting  Webex MeetMeNow  Netmeeting  DimDim  Skype Hardware  Digital Bridges  Polycom PVX  VTEL  Point to Point Multi-Port Equipment  Desktops  Laptops  Internal/External Cameras  Monitors  Integrated Mobile Phones

How Will You Use It? Videoconferencing

AT&T Intellectual Property. Welcome to the knowledge network explorer. (2010). Videoconferencing for learning. Retrieved from Brooks, Joey (2009, December 29). Ellen Page Cisco Advertising Field Trip. [ Video file]. Retrieved from Down, P. (2009). Introduction to videoconferencing. JANET Video Technology Services. Retrieved from Freidland, G. & Rojas, R. (2008). Anthropocentric video segmentation for lecture webcasts. EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing, 2008, doi: /2008/ Ge, S. S. & Tok, M. Y. (2003). Enhancing online education using collaboration solutions. J. Educational Technology Systems, 31(4), Gilles, D. (2008). Student perspectives on videoconferencing in teacher education at a distance. Distance Education, 29 (1), Harrison, H. (2009). History of video conferencing. eHow Consulting Writer. Retrieved April 4, 2010 from Harrison, H. (2009). About video conferencing. eHow Consulting Writer. Retrieved April 4, 2010 from Stevens, R. & Little, R. (2006). Ed tech’s virtual field trips: Video conferencing. Educational Technology Office. Retrieved from University of Wyoming, (2007). Video Conferencing. Outreach School UMTV. Retrieved from Wikipedia (2010, April). Videoconferencing. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved from