This post continues our 20 Day Challenge to understand the technical aspects of videoconferencing.
This post is written specifically for those in K12 education who have many videoconference endpoints to support. These are some of the strategies we use to keep our sanity when supporting multiple schools with videoconferencing.
Web Access to Endpoints
If at all possible, have your the districts open up web access to the endpoints (preferably securely to only your IP address/range). With this access you can:
- upgrade the firmware
- remotely mute or move the camera
- remotely place or receive a call
- update the directory
- check the status of the unit or the stats on the call
Management Software
All of the major vendors provide management software that can be used to oversee many units. This software usually includes the ability to:
- Check the status of the unit – is it on etc.? (if SNMP is enabled on the endpoint)
- Upgrade the firmware
- Manage phone books on the endpoints
- Report any problems with the endpoints (remote batteries are low, setting problems, network issues, etc.)
Scheduling Software
While the industry is moving away from a scheduled videoconference environment (to an ad-hoc environment), scheduled calls are still fairly common within K12 education: particularly for shared classes. Depending on the support you provide for your schools, you may find yourself scheduling calls with content providers and partner schools for your teachers. If so, software that schedules and monitors conferences is helpful. All of the major vendors, plus a few others such as Renovo, provide software for scheduling videoconferences.
Database of Contacts
You’ll also want to have an organizational system to keep track of the contact information for people involved in videoconferencing at each of your schools. In Berrien RESA’s schools, the support team includes the main VC coordinator, the principal, the tech coordinator, and sometimes additional staff such as the secretary or media paraprofessional. Keep up to date contact information for everyone:
- School phone
- Cell phone numbers
- Emails
- Each person’s role
If you have an issue with a school, you want to see at a glance who to contact.
It’s also a good idea to keep up regular communication with your contacts, sharing with them:
- News and progress about the implementation of videoconferencing
- Success stories
- Tips and strategies for promotion
- Reminders like turning off and securing the equipment for the summer
- Lists of potential videoconferences to share with teachers
If you don’t have a videoconference contact in each school, you should work on it soon! Here’s what we use to encourage our schools to assign a contact:
- Berrien RESA’s VC Coordinator characteristics overview
- Whirlidurb’s How to Select a Video Conference Coordinator
Your Turn
- What have you found helpful and essential in managing a lot of videoconference units? Please share in the comments!
Team-written by Janine Lim, Shane Howard, and Roxanne Glaser. The opinions expressed in these posts are based on our collective video conference experience connecting classes across multiple networks to connect them to zoos, museums, experts and other classes during the past 10 years. This series of posts reflects our usage and understanding, not that of any vendor or manufacturer. No one is paying us to write these. We are just sharing what we have learned.
