TWICE has started a blog, so subscribe right away! Keep up with various TWICE initiatives, including Read Around the Planet. You won’t want to miss this way to keep up with the latest news on all the details and procedures for Read Around the Planet!
I’m delighted that Danny Maas, Project Coordinator for Videoconferencing for Alberta Education, has started blogging about videoconferencing! His blog is called Elevate, and while it’s themed the same as the Elevate Conference in 2008, it’s about VC in general too.
You’ll definitely want to read his post about TokBox, a flash based video chat client. Danny explains how the tool works and shares some really innovative ideas on how it could be used to support videoconference projects, especially large events. Like maybe Megaconference or Megaconference Jr.? Check it out!
I’m delighted to add Ashton Graham, El Paso ISD, TX to my growing list of VC bloggers! Ashton too has been blogging the Jazz sessions this week. I know that with her background in video production we’ll be learning some great tricks of the trade from her blog!
Ashton is an enthusiastic promoter of videoconferencing, seen here next to the Jazz Schedule and Word Wall. I’m sure we’ll all enjoy reading her perspectives on videoconferencing!
Can you tell I’m cleaning out my email today? Lots of little tidbits to share.
These two are from the July 12 Wainhouse Research Bulletin.
The Live Earth concerts, which recently aired in support of global warming awareness, featured short tips before going into commercial breaks. One was simply, “For every 3 meetings held by videoconference instead of flying cross country, it would be like taking a car completely off the road for an entire year.” Think about it…..
A few interesting tidbits from a white paper sponsored by Netherlands-based Talk & Vision, authored by Professor Erik Andriessen….. “Collaborating more in a virtual way has a positive impact on the environment, without jeopardizing the business relationship. Imagine if one in five business trips in the 25 EU countries were replaced by a solution that does not require travelling (such as videoconference), 22.35 million tons of CO2 could be avoided each year. In Holland alone, this would also save about 2 billion euros per year.
Have you thought about how using videoconferencing for meetings instead of driving makes a positive impact on the environment?
TANDBERG has just released a website called SeeGreenNow that lets you calculate your carbon footprint from travel, take a quiz to test your Green-IQ, take a pledge to reduce your business’ carbon emissions, and read about success stories.
How often do YOU videoconference instead of traveling?
As part of my Leadership studies, I’ve been reading a book called Leadership and the New Science. It’s a book that will blow your mind! Seriously, if you want a paradigm change, add this to your summer reading.
Here’s a little sample that applies to our work (my emphasis):
I’ve worked with some college faculties torn apart by the availability of technology. The more technologically eager faculty accuse the reticent ones of being out-of-date and resistant to change — they berate their colleagues for not climbing on the technology bandwagon. I always suggest that a different conversation is needed. What if we stop assuming that technology’s value to a teacher is self-evident? What if we stop assuming that anybody who doesn’t adopt new technology is an antiquated Luddite whose only interest is to stop the march of progress? If we gitve up those assumptions, we can begin a different conversation, one that helps us connect to one another and learn more about how we each see the world. We can step back from the technology issue and ask one another what called us into teaching. We can listen to the aspirations that are voiced. What we will hear is that most of us went into teaching for noble purposes — we wanted to make a difference in the lives of students and to advance human wisdom.
If we have this conversation first, we can discover one another as colleagues. Then we are reading to talk about technology. How might computers assist a professor to be more effective at his or her craft?
How might videoconferencing be used to meet goals that teachers find meaningful? (like helping students understand the world?) What do you think? Start by answering this question yourself. What called you into teaching?? Now think about asking a colleague the same question when you get back to school…. Prepare to really listen to their story….
Jerry Steuerwald so graciously shared this in a comment this morning; so I’m sharing it again here in case you haven’t subscribed to comments on this blog. Jerry, good stuff! 🙂 Time to start your own blog. 🙂
Ten Steps to Successful Video Conferencing
Below are the keys steps that I have found are needed in order to be successful using video conferencing. This list comes after ten years of experience using the technology in education.
- Ownership: Equipment, network, process, communications, training, commitment.
- Stable Network: Bandwidth, firewall, testing, certification, problem solving, change management.
- Available (In-House) Technical Support
- Trained End Users:Equipment, VC protocol, content resources, basic problem solving.
- Practice: Test calls, reduce fear of technology failure, increase number of positive experiences.
- Advance Planning:Testing, scheduling, communications (internal/external), tech support.
- Locate Content Resources and Collaborate with Others: Free, paid programs and collaborations
- Coordinate, Communicate between In-House personnel (Tech-End User) and Outside Parties
- Participate in VC: Just do it! Start your learning curve.
- Plan for VC sustainability: Funds for programs and equipment repair/upgrades.
What’s in your “top ten” list for successful VC in education? What would you add? What do you think is the most important? Leave a comment!
Here’s a funny article from IVCI’s newsletter: Top Ten Reasons Why VC Meetings Fail. My favorite is:
The user schedules the meeting, invites the guests, prepares the presentation and then fails to show up because he/she doesn’t want to be seen on video!
Reminds me of my Top Ten Reasons Why a VC Gets Cancelled. What are your craziest stories?
Paul Hieronymous has written up a reflection from his experiences at NECC. Thanks, Paul for taking the time to tell us about it! Also he has a new site with a list of IP addresses of various test sites. Great contribution!
Did you notice this in your email? Mark your calendar now!
CILC Symposium
Don’t miss an opportunity to learn and share best practices, practical applications, and emerging trends.
Where K-20 videoconferencing and collaborative technology leaders connect, interact, and learn.
(Formerly the Keystone Conference)
November 13 & 14, 2007.
Learn more at www.cilcsymposium.org.
