Possibilities of Videoconferencing

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Possibilities of Videoconferencing

• Southern Regional ETTCPresenter Dina Abbamondi

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What is Distance Learning?

• Telecourses or Correspondence Courses
• Videostreaming downloaded videos
• Cable or Satellite programmed lessons
• Web-based lessons Online Courses
• Videoconferencing
• Email - Listservs
• Blended Learning

Todays focus will be Interactive
Videoconferencing
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Todays agenda

• Videoconferencing whats it all about?
• Discover current activities
• Explore resources
• Plan original programs

Learning more

• ETTC workshop and Conference
• MAIT Stocktons Graduate program
• Practice Play

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What is videoconferencing?
Videoconferencing allows people from all over
the world to connect live using either

•  ISDN
• (1 to 6 phone lines)
• Monthly access fee, per-call fee based on
  distance
• Need a special spot or special wires
• Old Faithful

• ATM/IP
• (over the Internet)
• Monthly access fee, free calls
• Could work on every computer!
• Can be problematic!

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Distance Learning for K-12

• Online Courses
• Homeschooling options
• People to meet email
• Places to go research
• Explore the Pyramids
• Meet the Elephants

Lets shake hands through the distance.
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Interactive Videoconferencing(point to point)
I can see and hear your class!
Tighe Middle
Union Avenue
Your class can see and hear me!
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Multi-point Connections
All classes can dial into a bridgeallows more
classrooms to see each other and hear each other.
Galloway Middle
Tighe Middle
Union Avenue
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Benefits

• Almost like being there
• Exposure
• Improve retention and appeal
• Depth of learning
• Engagement of learner
• Flexibility in offerings
• Costs

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Part of the Process

• Scheduling! Keep in mind class periods.
• Equipment problems
• Test Call
• Back up Lesson
• Teaching practices
• Fewer body language and tone of voice clues
• Discipline and motivation of far end is hard
• Its NOT a TV-show its a class!
• Need to get away from the the talking head
• Takes time to build relationships with schools
• Need motivated students practice
• Preparation time for classes

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Onto the Many Uses of Videoconferencing

• Enrichment and Homebound classes
• Virtual Field Trips and Projects
• Connection to Experts
• Professional Development
• Meetings professional memberships
• Fostering relationships with sister schools in
  faraway places

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What Can You Do?

• Offer classes not always available
• Participate in enrichment activities
• Offer classes during off-hours to students who
  cannot attend traditional classes
• Team up with businesses/prospective employers to
  offer training or certification
• Team-teach with remote teachers, sharing subject
  matter, expertise or a unique approach to a topic
• Meet with tutors for enrichment, remediation, or
  a helpful bit of personal attention
• Communicate first-hand with experts in many
  fields to enhance understanding of a subject they
  are studying.

This real-world contact can heighten interest,
improve motivation, and increase retention.
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Home-bound Enrichment classes

• Japanese, German, American Sign Language, other
  unusual world languages
• It allows a school district to offer classes
  where it is difficult to fill a class or find a
  teacher to teach.
• Beam students from sending schools

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Virtual Field Trips

• Break Down the Classroom Walls
• Conquer Time Space
• Avoid Budget Constraints on Field Trips

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Examples

• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Liberty Science Center Chemistry and Bio lab
• Diversity discussions with an Irish classroom
• Wildlife refuges in various countries
• NASA Johnson Space Center
• Underwater diving experience AquaQuest
• Performance Artists various universities
• United Nations
• ETTC Virtual Visits

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Where to Look for Virtual Field Trips?

• Amazing array of possibilities
• Verizon Virtual Visits
• Virtual Field Trips for Science
• PacBell Main

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Fostering relationships with sister schools

• Enrichment
• Allows a perspective on other cultures
• Allows students ability to travel without the
  costs
• Students can practice languages
• Develop joint projects

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Original Programs

• Foster relationships
• Opportunities to share
• Cultural exchange
• Develop joint projects experiments, data
  sharing, comparisons, story writing

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Sharing Science Classroom Pets

• Student-to-student distance learning series
• 8th grade students presented science lessons
  about unusual science pets (scorpions, geckos,
  turtles and millipedes among others!) to younger
  students
• PowerPoint presentation,
• video clips, and quiz to test
• comprehension

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Planning Resources

• Garden State Distance Learning Consortium -
  www.gsdlc.org
• PacBell Video Adventures - www.kn.pacbell.com/wir
  ed/vidconf
• DOE Educational Technology Page -
  www.nj.gov/njded/techno
• Partners in Distance Learning -
  www.partnersdl.org
• Portal Guide - www.bellatlantic.com/ba-nj/educatio
  n/VideoPortalGuide.htm
• NECC - www.neccsite.org

Old-fashioned networking works, too!
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Tips for Interaction

• Eye contact and smile
• Get to know the audience
• Ice breaker
• Ask questions and direct to individual
• No talking head model
• Use audio-visual aids document camera,
  internet, PowerPoint, demonstrations
• Provide materials for remote site

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Lets start planning!

• Reach me with any questions.
• Dina.Abbamondi_at_stockton.edu