Tag Archives: VC Community

CBS Features VC Field Trips

Just received this tip from Bob Dixon via several listservs. CBS did a story on virtual field trips that is nice and concise and features several content providers we’re familiar with. Great student quotes too.

The clip also features Jody Kennedy, who has written several articles about videoconferencing. These are the ones I know of.

Content providers featured include Mote Marine, Reef HQ in Australia, and the Center for Puppetry Arts. The clip is only three minutes long and perfect for workshops and training sessions. Check it out!

Learning Virtually from TCEA

This week I’ve enjoyed reading a few snippets about the videoconference sessions at TCEA thanks to Roxanne Glaser. Some great ideas on 100 days of school, school cheers and Texas history from Angela Conrad’s presentation. And it’s always interesting to hear how one district, in this case Northwest ISD, is running their program including funding, uses of VC, and management of the programs. So if you didn’t get a chance to catch these posts, check them out!

Last Thoughts for 2006

This is my last post for 2006. It’s been a great year and thanks to everyone who has read and commented, and especially thanks to those of you who have started blogging about VC too. I appreciate the opportunity to learn from you!

Polycom RSS 2000
If you missed the ASK: Jim Stovall streaming today, review my blog entry on that and login to view the archive. The streaming was really easy to do. I just logged into the admin side of the RSS, dialed out to Macomb ISD’s bridge with live streaming checked, and voila it was up and running. Quality looked great from my end at least. I hope some of you had a chance to try it out. Please leave a comment on how the streaming and/or archive works for you.

1.7.07 Update. Added after reading The Weblog Handbook. The RSS 2000 mentioned is on loan to Berrien County ISD from Polycom to support Polycom Special Events.

Read Around the Planet
I wanted to say a few words about Read Around the Planet. The teacher registration has been extended to January 19, and a new quick overview of the two ways to enter match requests has been posted online.

If you haven’t noticed already, RAP is a huge project and growing very fast. The system seems complicated and while we are working on that, it’s because the project is complicated. It’s very difficult to meeting the needs of all the ways that connections and coordination happens throughout the areas participating in the project. Our programmers mutter that it’s like trying to bring order to chaos and not easy to do.

Thankfully, the system allows everyone to see their buildings and match requests (if everything is entered correctly! :>), which we didn’t have possible before. In addition, this is the first year that the matching will be done by computer. It’s about time! Last year it took me three weeks to match 1000 requests by hand.

So, I know things are pretty bumpy this year, and I thank everyone who has been so patient. Hang in there! We will make it through yet another year of this amazing project. If you have questions, you can send them to Sue Porter, read@remc11.k12.mi.us. She’s off Dec. 21 through Jan. 2, but otherwise can answer your questions.

Merry Christmas
So now I’m off til January 8. Tonight I’m decorating a gingerbread house (made from scratch) with a friend and her two daughters. When I come back in January I may have a special treat of pictures to share with you too. Enjoy your holidays and be sure to rest and spend quality time with family and friends – AWAY from technology! 🙂

Evaluations of Codecs

Just found this on the Megaconference Listserv. JANET, the UK’s education and research network, has done very specific tests and evaluations of various codecs. What a wealth of information for those making decisions on purchasing equipment!

K12 Videconferencing in Ontario

I just ran across a community site for interactive videoconferencing in Ontario. It looks like a Moodle site with RSS feeds from several VC blogs including mine. Neat site. Seems like they are just getting started. Check it out!

Support VC Research: Take Two Surveys

We all know that more research needs to be done on videoconferencing. So, help that get done by completing two surveys today! These are two direct quotes from emails.

The first is from the UK:

Dear Colleagues,

I hope you can take a few minutes to help with a survey that my daughter Tamsin has prepared. Tamsin is preparing a dissertation looking at the impact of videoconferencing in the classroom. The survey is designed to give her research some basic information about who, why and where VC is being used. Tamsin is a student at City University, London, studying Business computing. Her particular interest is HCI (Human Computer Interaction) which is why she is interested in videoconferencing.

The URL for the survey is:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=414602995487

I am also hoping to introduce this method of getting feedback for the VC sessions next year. It will be interesting to see the response and the information the survey generates.

Many Thanks in advance.

Mike

Global-Leap/ Videoconferencing in the Classroom Teachers Association
Supporting, Delivering and Extending Content and Promoting Interactive Communication Technology to add value to teaching and learning across the curriculum around the world.
http://www.global-leap.org
Global-Leap/ Videoconferencing in the Classroom Teachers Association is a Not-for-Profit organisation funded by UK member subscriptions.

And the second from Massachusetts:

I am a doctoral candidate at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and I am surveying K-12 videoconferencing educators, as part of my research.
Click on this link to be taken directly to the survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=161492304337
This study looks at ways videoconferencing is actually used in classrooms. We are trying to identify some videoconferencing techniques that are based on learning theory so that everyone may benefit from this information.
Your participation in this survey will be confidential and only studied as part of a group. You will remain anonymous. Also, I will post the results back to this listserv, so that you may use this research when writing grants, planning research or while implementing more videoconferencing opportunities.
The results of this survey will be useful to educators using videoconferencing as well as future research projects.
If you have questions you can e-mail me at sweeneym@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Thank you so much for your contribution to technology research,

Marilyn A. Sweeney
Doctoral Candidate
University of Massachusetts Lowell
and
Technology Integration Specialist
Chelmsford Public Schools

Take just a few minutes today to support VC research with your time!

Unique Admin Use of VC & a Wiki

This week I reviewed a project submitted for my class Kid2Kid Videoconference Connections. Gord Smith is a videoconferencing coordinator for Palliser Regional Schools in southern Alberta, Canada. The district is large and just getting started with VC. So Gord has set up regular informal “drop-in” VCs for his administrators to share and discuss issues in their district. He’s also using a wiki as part of the project. It’s a great use of VC and is meeting a unique need in his district. Read more about the project plan here.

[This project shared here with permission.]

Warm Feelings From Megaconference

Did you participate in Megaconference yesterday? Did you stay the whole time? Did you get up early to see the presentations from Asia? What a treat of dance and music from the Chinese Academy of Sciences! First thing in the morning (EST) and then at the end of Megaconference last night (EST). The ending performance from Beijing, “The Greeting From Heart,” by the Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe was exquisite. One of the dances created a heart to share with the world.

Yes, there is incredible value in taking time beyond your usual schedule to connect to countries around the world. The Chinese message and theme of “Peace +Friendship +Harmoniousness +Advancement” came through strong and clear. Yes, we CAN feel connected and together even though we are geographically far away.

Leaving my office in the snow & cold last night, I had a feeling of awe and community. How close we are to each other. How much we can learn from each other. “The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.” Nothing compares to signing that song in a funny echoing round with 26 MCUs cascaded together! If you haven’t stuck around for the closing ceremonies of Megaconference before, plan your schedule so you can next year.

Megaconferencing Around the World

Today I’m enjoying the wonderful experiences of the 8th annual Megaconference. If you haven’t participated in a Megaconference before, you should definitely plan for next year’s. The next one is Megaconference Jr. in February. Megaconference is always a visually rich feast of experiences, pictures, and people.

This morning started with a beautiful music and dance from the Chinese Academy of the Sciences. Also we saw some neat role plays and skits from Taiwan explaining Chinese culture.

We learned about a new content provider in Texas, The Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

My favorite part of Megaconference is the roll calls. I love to see all the places that are connected. It’s a great geography lesson seeing all the places that are connected. And of course Bob’s hats are a treat to see!
My next favorite part is the choirs. Tim Poe’s songs are just perfect and set a fun and joyful tone to the conference.

I really enjoyed the Trans Atlantic Piano Teaching presentation. This reminded me of the MusicPath presentation at NECC a couple years ago. It looks like the same technology that allows you to play a piano remotely. Pretty cool.

I was intrigued by the North Dakota Telepharmacy Project. I also like to learn about real-world uses of VC outside of education. Bringing pharmacy services to rural communities VC is really creative and totally meets a need.

The conference is still going on, so if you’re reading this yet today and haven’t signed up, you can watch the streaming here.