Vic Virtual Learning Project Jo Tate Gary Schultz

SERVICING VICTORIA Gary Schultz (Horsham Office) Jo Tate (Ballarat Office)  Working across the State to support virtual delivery of Curriculum P-12 including:  VCE and Languages using video conferencing and a blended learning approach.  Building strong partnerships with outside organisations that are providing new and engaging opportunities for P-12 classrooms.  Promoting and supporting the establishment of clusters with an understanding how best to utilise the potential of video conferencing equipment,  we have many exempla’s of current practice.

Guiding schools through installation issues they might have Remote and face to face delivery of support around whole staff usage of Polycom and Lync

 820 Polycom VC units in schools across Regional Victoria  VC Network Bridging – 60 concurrent connections  External provider connectivity  world wide  iPad/Android Polycom RealPresence app  Microsoft Lync enabling video conferencing via computers for edumail users o Polycom compatible o Mac/Win

 Research project into Blended Learning funded through DEECD, Central and Region  Involved: Students Teachers Parents  Findings  Personalised learning provision and access to teacher  VCE results found equal to traditional classroom  Student engagement with extended classroom group  Flexible approach - similar University models

2009 Wimmera Virtual School 7 VCE classes 5 schools involved in providing and receiving 2012 Grampians Virtual School 24 classes across 27 schools Grampians 18 schools Loddon Mallee 5 schools Barwon South Western 4 schools 2013 State-wide movement 42 classes across 37 schools N.B. NEVR data still collating

Above: VCE Revolutions History class in Mt. Clear College Ballarat providing VC access to a Wimmera school

110 students located in 28 schools

 2012 – 2013 Supporting Victoria’s innovative clusters using a blended learning approach to delivery of Languages  Dimboola Cluster (9 schools) German  Ballarat University Cluster (8 schools) Chinese/Japanese  Ararat Central Cluster (19 schools) French  Campaspe Cluster (8 schools) Indonesian  Ballan Cluster (3 schools) Italian  Broadford Cluster (9 schools) Indonesian – Planning /discussions underway

Virtual Visits to Virtual Classrooms Teacher Visitors Students

Examples of some of our many collaborative resource spaces to support language provision

 Support formulisation of suitable Virtual School Networks for 2014  Training provision of teachers new to blended learning and video conference delivery  Assisting schools with location of working models and exempla’s  Supporting cluster meetings and group training programs  Facilitate virtual classroom visits  Brokering opportunities with Tertiary institutions VCE & P-12 Language Provision

Many organizations such as Museums have outreach agendas attached to their funding provision. Video Conferencing is an economical way of reaching classrooms in other States, Rural and Regional areas. Organizations are investigating how best to offer programs that suit your needs while tapping into the expertise they have in specialized areas. Other organizations are keen to promote the use of the technology to increase sales and have employed specific teams of educators to work with schools. For now, many of the events you can register for are FREE, in particular those run by Government Organizations. Other events are being run as pilots and will be reviewed before any established regular programs are promoted. Around Australia groups of Content Providers are meeting regularly and shortly there will be a website of Virtual Excursions where a majority will be represented to make things easier for schools. The URL for this site will be: Opera Australia Meeting Interested in what schools want State, National, International Many free opportunities Schools as providers

Linked to the Barrier Reef education centre

 Provision of advice and support in their planning as a Content provider for schools  Sharing a school session with staff representatives  Nomination of schools for any trialling of Content units

 We were approached for two Victorian schools to join the pilot recently  Sorrento PS  Haddon PS

Secondary and Primary classes in Grampians linked live to a University scientist Charles Sturt Uni for the event

 Supporting provision out of Science Centres building on best practice eg. Questacon  Exploration of potential curriculum sharing and special events by Science Centres  Science Week – special VC event in planning – dial in free to a program of events!

 Establishment of an instrumental music lesson delivery program over our video conferencing network  Involvement of schools in special event Polycom international music concerts using VC  Conducting our own international music concert using VC timed for the Perfecting the Blend Conference  Composer’s Workshops running via VC  Ambassador program – visit to Opera Australia in Sydney after 39 lessons from Opera House to Ballarat HS (separate instrumental and vocal sections)

2012, 2013

 Provision of current VC opportunities ed out to equipped schools  Liaison work with Content providers around suitable programs for P-12  Assistance if your school wants to become a Content provider  Point of reference for schools looking for events and Content providers with special opportunities available

 Microsoft partnership providing a free series of PD Programs for Grampian’s schools over VC 17 schools participated  in initial trial

“Many thanks for your informative session yesterday. Seeing the Polycom in operation and utilised in a practical session made all the difference to my thinking. I’m now a convert! Again, thanks so much to you both for making the day possible. Regards, Kim van den Berghe” NSSCF Project Officer BSW Region. Green screening from the USA Bridging distance to access exempla’s Just in time PD for teachers Lync and Polycom sessions able to be recorded Just in time Facilitates schools shared PD in clusters Ability to share desktop during instruction

International Keynotes Inter-regional participants Live links to Questacon and other content specialists International keynotes Capacity building Sharing experience ACMI

Transport Connections Project - Pyrenees shire Grant 60 adult learners access through 8 rural school venues (over 6 weeks) Statewide School Councillor Induction Seminars

 Examples

Establishing contact and planning through our Grampian’s partnership with the Polycom education team Enormous media coverage in China for the first educational link via VC to an outside educational region Mt Clear College and Grampians Regional staff linked live Resulting in: Planning joint curriculum projects into 2013 Exploring the VC for potential teacher PD initiatives with China Invitations from China for delegations of school leaders to form individual school partnership agreements 300 New VC units delivered into Beijing schools Sina.com ： the biggest web media – 700M clicks per day sou.com ： 2 nd web media – 400M clicks per day China News Agency ： ID= Netease.com ： 3 rd web media – 150M clicks per day 中国教育网 – Education Trade web media html

 Three Regional Vic schools were the very first Oz participants  Working partnerships established  Schools collaborate in ongoing language, cultural and art activities  Student learn to collaborate and solve issues with global partners while producing a joint venture end product

Live  Debates with Japan  Students and teachers presenting internationally  Cooking classes  Solar cooker design and construction  Sharing scientists and local environmental issues  Culture box exchanges  Working with student teachers in Canada  Careers lessons

Familiarisation, leadership & teacher support in blended learning