Monthly Archives: May 2011

Budget Dust: Invest in VC for Next School Year

As the end of the school year looms, are you also cleaning up accounts and spending last bits of funds? 

Doug Johnson has blogged in the past about ways to spend “budget dust“. I think it’s a great term to describe that last little bit to spend at the end of the school year.

If you want to invest in your videoconferencing for next year, there are two excellent options. Both options allow you to spend this year’s money and use it for programs in the next school year (or even later if you want/need)…

CILC Content Dollar Bank

  • Minimum $5,000 deposit required
  • 20% service fee
  • Funds can be used on all programming on CILC including content providers, professional development, CILC Spotlights, and special events
  • If your district requires preferred vendor documentation, just do it once instead of for each provider!
  • Reduces scheduling hassle
  • More info online

Whirlidurb Membership

  • Minimum membership is $595 and you can get a custom quote.
  • No service fee
  • Access to a wide range of engaging high quality programs for K-8 students
  • Reduces scheduling hassle
  • The certification process eliminates test calls!
  • More info online

Bonus: TWICE Membership

While you’re at it, if you are a TWICE member (or were thinking about it), you might as well buy membership for next school year too!

  • Discounts on ASK program author and specialist interviews
  • Access to special facilitated projects such as Holiday Hoopla and Poetry Idol!
  • Learn more online

Plan now to expand or sustain your videoconference program for next school year!

A Good VC is Curation; A Good Lesson is Curation

Roxanne Glaser often sends me interesting ideas that I mull over. In the last several months, I’ve been thinking about her comments about curation. You’ll find that some people are suggesting that in the noise of social media, curation is “the next big thing”. For example:

Teaching is Curation

I’ve been thinking about….

  • how people are applying curation to the “noise” of the web
  • the poor search results on typical elementary research topics
  • the rumblings I’ve heard from a laptop school where teachers in higher grades grumble about the quality of scholastic skills from those students
  • the content generated sites at the top of search engines… sites that are jammed with ads and have low level quality content created for a few cents a page

I think that good teaching is curation….

  • Choosing an instructional design that meets the needs and interests of the students
  • Selecting the best resources to teach that concept
  • Creating a comfortable yet challenging learning environment
  • Selecting a few good information sources (not just Google!) for student project based learning
  • Teaching students to select quality information sources for their own research

A Good Videoconference is Curation

Arielle from The Cleveland Museum of Art presenting: “Race” is a Four Letter Word

I’ve been thinking about quality, engaging videoconferences….

  • Many are offered by museums who are already great at curation…
  • It’s true that teachers could collect the images and video clips and resources to teach a lesson the same as the videoconference; but it’s packaging all that which is hard.
  • Many awesome videoconferences are packaged lessons full of rich, visual resources…
  • Good teaching in a good videoconference is curation!

Find a Good Videoconference

Even as budgets tighten, there is still usually funding for instructional resources… great videoconferences are another excellent choice of instructional resources.

Favorite Videoconference: U.S. House of Representatives

I’m still cleaning our old website, and archiving old things here on my blog. These are featured articles and video clips on our favorite content providers from 2000-2001 and we still love these providers and programs!

Content Provider
United States House of Representatives housed in Washington, D.C. began with its first Congress March 4, 1789. It was not until recently Congress had the ability to use e-mail and videoconferencing to communicate to constituents. Teachers can videoconference to the House of Representatives by contacting their Representatives FIRST then the House of Representatives Videoconference Director.

 “I learned about his views on different topics, such as laws and regulations.”

“I think this experience was wonderful because in this case we could talk with US congress and ask about our questions, and hear about other questions in other schools.”

Students
Interview with Your Congressman
This conversation with Mr. Upton is tailored to the students questions. Teachers and students work ahead of time to generate questions on various current issues. During the video conference Mr. Upton will introduce himself and the schools participating will take turns asking their questions.

Video clip from March 13, 2000. Get QuickTime.

Favorite Videoconference: U.S. Senate

I’m still cleaning our old website, and archiving old things here on my blog. These are featured articles and video clips on our favorite content providers from 2000-2001 and we still love these providers and programs!

Content Provider
United States Senate in Washington, D.C. houses two Senators from each state. Through the power of videoconferencing it is possible to visit a Senator for a unique “Capitol experience.” Arrangements must be made ahead of time by contacting the office of the Senator first; then the videoconference center. The school must sustain any costs of the videoconference.

 “I thought it was wonderful. It was really weird at first because you’re talking to a television. I learned a lot because you get to listen and then ask questions about anything that you don’t understand, which was great.”

-Student
Interview with Your Senator
This program consists of a short presentation by the Senator followed by a question and answer period. The Senator will also have some questions for the students. Students prepare questions ahead of time. Question time will be shared among the schools participating. Video clip from May 15, 2000. Get QuickTime.

Favorite Videoconference: Columbus Zoo

I’m still cleaning our old website, and archiving old things here on my blog. These are featured articles and video clips on our favorite content providers from 2000-2001 and we still love these providers and programs!

Content Provider
Visit the Zoo without ever leaving your classroom! The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium broadcasts videoconferencing programs directly from animal exhibits, and incorporates a variety of hands-on activities into every class. Each teacher will receive a teacher packet upon scheduling a program. This packet will contain information and materials for each session, as well as ideas for pre- and post-visit activities.

“The technology helped in answering questions that we felt needed to be answered.”

Grade 3 Student
Magnificent Manatees
Come with us on a rare underwater adventure as we visit the world of the West Indian Manatee. Students will become scientists as they explore these marine mammals through interdisciplinary activities. Video clip from March 24, 2000. Get QuickTime.

Favorite Videoconference: Center for Puppetry Arts

I’m still cleaning our old website, and archiving old things here on my blog. These are featured articles and video clips on our favorite content providers from 2000-2001 and we still love these providers and programs!

Content Provider
The Center for Puppetry Arts uses the latest technology to offer nationwide Distance Learning programs for K-12. Hands-on puppet building workshops are conducted via videoconferencing and are tailored to specific classroom topics and curriculum. The arts are infused with science, social studies, language arts and other disciplines to create a dynamic, interactive virtual classroom for a virtual field trip experience. Programs complements national curriculum standards in language arts, social studies, science, math and other areas. The Center provides a comprehensive study guide and materials list.

“I loved the videoconference. It helped me get a better learning experience.”

-Student
Butterflies
Each student will construct a Butterfly Marionette while participating in learning activities about the lifecycle of the butterfly, what makes a butterfly an insect, coloring and camouflage, moths, and the similarities and differences between caterpillars and butterflies. Video clips and photographs of the different stages in the life of a butterfly are included. This is a great arts and science lesson all in one! Video clip from May 24, 2000. Get QuickTime.

A New LifeSize Express Arrived Yesterday Afternoon!

Yesterday afternoon we were privileged to receive a grant through Views On Learning to receive a new LifeSize Express system, plus a really cool Ergotron cart and 50 inch display.

Views on Learning, Inc. (VOL) is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation established to provide our Educational Broadband Service (EBS) schools with distance education opportunities that meet the requirements of NCLB and improve student learning.

Thank you to Jeff Gangloff and Les Turner of Views On Learning for coming to install our new HD videoconferencing system! We’re excited to partner with Views on Learning to bring engaging learning opportunities to more students via videoconferencing. I’m looking forward to facilitating the Jazz workshop this summer from this system too.

One of our elementary schools was also able to receive a grant through Views on Learning. You can read more about that here.

Connect with your local veterans

Today we had another full day of Lest We Forget Vietnam sessions. Students from Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey,  and Texas interviewed our panel.

Major Gary Lulenksi, MD; L/CPL Denny Kime; and Major Jim Taylor

I have shared lists of questions many times before when reporting on these VCs.

Today, instead, I want to appeal to you!

I urge you to make contact with your local veterans and bring them into your classrooms, either in person or via videoconference.

Our veterans appreciate the experience so much!

  • They say it helps them think positively about their experience.
  • Sharing their experience is so helpful.
  • They are so glad that students are interested in their stories.
  • The student thank you letters mean so much to them. Some of our Vietnam veterans were never thanked for their service until they participated in this program.
  • Having young people say “Thank you for your service” is so meaningful to them.
  • They say that they learn so much from the students.
  • They are glad for the opportunity to encourage students to welcome home and support current members of the service. They don’t want veterans of current wars to have the same cold welcome home that they experienced; so they are glad of an opportunity to educate and inspire students.
  • In the words of one veteran today: “You may think this is an imposition; asking us questions. But it’s not an imposition. This process helps us share our good memories.”

So I urge and encourage you! Connect with your local veterans organizations and bring this real-life learning to your classrooms!