Spreading the labor around

As the use of videoconferencing increases in schools, the challenge of supporting the videoconferences also grows larger. Here’s a comment from one of my media specialists (finishing up the Kid2Kid Videoconference Connections online class).

I am a media specialist and I think folks sometimes forget that the media center is my classroom, not just a location for videoconferencing. Luckily, we have the option of our science lab and the classroom as alternative vc sites; however, if a vc is scheduled during one of my class periods, I am running to make the test call and set up as well as cover my class. I am fortunate in that a few of my teachers have been enthusiastic about learning the set up of the equipment and are comfortable using the remote and running the actual program themselves. I don’t always have to be in the room while the vc is taking place. It always seems to work out even though it can be hectic at times.

Whether a media specialist or a teacher is the coordinator for videoconferencing, it still helps to have other teachers in the building trained and comfortable with the equipment. This means using it often enough to get over the fear of it! There’s a circle of support: the more you use it, the more comfortable people are, the easier it is, to use it more! What do you think? Does this scenario happen in your area too?

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