Bridging the Gap with Bridging the Gap with Distance LearningDistance Learning

Why Video Conferencing?Why Video Conferencing?

Increased access to educational Increased access to educational resourcesresources

Flexibility for the learnerFlexibility for the learner Equity in opportunities for both Equity in opportunities for both

teachers and studentsteachers and students Valuable interchange with the “outside Valuable interchange with the “outside

world”world” Virtual schools – fastest growing Virtual schools – fastest growing

educational movement of the early 21educational movement of the early 21stst centurycentury

Adding Value to the ClassroomAdding Value to the Classroom

Enables students to access otherwise Enables students to access otherwise unavailable classesunavailable classes

Broadens students’ view of the worldBroadens students’ view of the world Increases student motivation for Increases student motivation for

learninglearning Enriches the existing curriculumEnriches the existing curriculum Provides just-in-time learning Provides just-in-time learning

environmentsenvironments

Who Can Benefit from VC?Who Can Benefit from VC?

TeachersTeachers AdministratorsAdministrators CommunitiesCommunities

STUDENTS!STUDENTS!

NISD 2005-2006 ExamplesNISD 2005-2006 Examples Staff DevelopmentStaff Development Distance Graduate ClassesDistance Graduate Classes

• MSUMSU• UNTUNT

Virtual Field TripsVirtual Field Trips• Camp Taji, IraqCamp Taji, Iraq• Live From the HeartLive From the Heart

Expert PresentersExpert Presenters• Forensic ScientistForensic Scientist• Eggs, Eggs EverywhereEggs, Eggs Everywhere

Current ExamplesCurrent Examples

Live From the HeartLive From the Heart Amazing AdaptationsAmazing Adaptations Bison: Back from the BrinkBison: Back from the Brink The Night ShiftThe Night Shift Visit with Jim Stovall (author)Visit with Jim Stovall (author) Pen Pals with Camp Taji, Iraq soldiersPen Pals with Camp Taji, Iraq soldiers Stories and the American WestStories and the American West Texas Bird’s Eye ViewTexas Bird’s Eye View Tuxedo Junction: PenguinsTuxedo Junction: Penguins

Current ExamplesCurrent Examples

To Infinity and Beyond!To Infinity and Beyond! Oh, It’s About to Snow!Oh, It’s About to Snow! Let’s Get Together!Let’s Get Together! Becoming the Author of Your Own LifeBecoming the Author of Your Own Life Nocturnal AnimalsNocturnal Animals Ecology ExplorationEcology Exploration Sailing into ThanksgivingSailing into Thanksgiving MicrobesMicrobes Recipe for SoilRecipe for Soil

Virtual Field TripsVirtual Field Trips

Faster and CheaperFaster and Cheaper Take your students:Take your students:

• into the tank of a famous aquariuminto the tank of a famous aquarium• across a remote field to a protected salt across a remote field to a protected salt

marshmarsh• into the control room of a NASA reflector into the control room of a NASA reflector

telescopetelescope• into the operating room to watch a live into the operating room to watch a live

open heart surgeryopen heart surgery

Interactive Student ProjectsInteractive Student Projects

Extend cooperative learning Extend cooperative learning experiencesexperiences

Allows students to work with others Allows students to work with others from different cultures and from different cultures and backgrounds around the globebackgrounds around the globe

Use of laptop, document camera, and Use of laptop, document camera, and live camera to communicate and live camera to communicate and share projectsshare projects

Interactive GroupsInteractive Groups

Student Council and other leadership Student Council and other leadership programsprograms

Debate TeamsDebate Teams Theatre GroupsTheatre Groups Musical PerformancesMusical Performances Habitat for HumanityHabitat for Humanity Art StudiesArt Studies Math Team CompetitionsMath Team Competitions

Staff DevelopmentStaff Development

Attend meetingsAttend meetings Attend trainingsAttend trainings Collaborate with other teachersCollaborate with other teachers Continue formal educationContinue formal education Observe other classrooms/studentsObserve other classrooms/students

Pre-Planning ConsiderationsPre-Planning Considerations

Curriculum IntegrationCurriculum Integration Equipment/FacilitiesEquipment/Facilities SupportSupport ProvidersProviders CostsCosts SchedulingScheduling Time Zone DifferencesTime Zone Differences MaterialsMaterials

Preparing for a VC ClassPreparing for a VC Class

1.1. Review the class syllabus, making Review the class syllabus, making sure it meets students’ needssure it meets students’ needs

2.2. Check class times (time zones) and Check class times (time zones) and student availability student availability

3.3. Confirm costs for the classConfirm costs for the class4.4. Find out what materials are Find out what materials are

required and supplied by providerrequired and supplied by provider5.5. Allot a period of time to familiarize Allot a period of time to familiarize

students with the technologystudents with the technology

Preparing for a VC ClassPreparing for a VC Class

6.6. Prepare yourself to use and support Prepare yourself to use and support the VC technologythe VC technology

7.7. Check into the reliability of the Check into the reliability of the remote teacher and programremote teacher and program

8.8. Consider students who are unable to Consider students who are unable to participate due to permissions for participate due to permissions for name/photo projectionname/photo projection

9.9. Confirm a test connection has/will be Confirm a test connection has/will be made prior to the actual VCmade prior to the actual VC

10.10. Have a backup plan in placeHave a backup plan in place

VC Evaluations or AssessmentsVC Evaluations or Assessments

Observations collected during the VC Observations collected during the VC to determine interactivityto determine interactivity

Journal writingJournal writing Interactive student surveysInteractive student surveys Sharing of survey resultsSharing of survey results Class presentationsClass presentations Post-activities or projectsPost-activities or projects

Instructional DesignInstructional Design

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives Objectives for VC InteractionObjectives for VC Interaction IntroductionsIntroductions Presentation of InformationPresentation of Information ActivitiesActivities AssessmentAssessment

Instructional StrategiesInstructional Strategies

The greater the number of students The greater the number of students involved in a VC, the less opportunity involved in a VC, the less opportunity they have to interact with each other.they have to interact with each other.

Ask students to write down questions Ask students to write down questions ahead of time.ahead of time.

Model interactive behavior.Model interactive behavior. Give students time to adjust.Give students time to adjust. Mute the mic when not speaking.Mute the mic when not speaking. Call on students to answer questions.Call on students to answer questions.

Presentation StrategiesPresentation Strategies

When speaking, project your voice.When speaking, project your voice. Make an effort to enunciate clearly.Make an effort to enunciate clearly. Maintain consistent and equal eye Maintain consistent and equal eye

contact with both groups. Look into contact with both groups. Look into the camera’s eye, not the screen.the camera’s eye, not the screen.

Be animated when you present and Be animated when you present and use normal hand gestures, but move use normal hand gestures, but move slowly.slowly.

Be mindful of your body language.Be mindful of your body language.

Participant EtiquetteParticipant Etiquette

No eating, drinking or chewing gum.No eating, drinking or chewing gum. Do not hog the microphone.Do not hog the microphone. Be aware that you are seen and heard Be aware that you are seen and heard

at all times.at all times. Raise your hand to speak at all times.Raise your hand to speak at all times. Allow time for audio and visual to travel Allow time for audio and visual to travel

– several seconds at least.– several seconds at least. Allow wait time in addition to lag time.Allow wait time in addition to lag time.

I’m Ready To Begin…Now What?I’m Ready To Begin…Now What?

NISD’s Instructional Technology has NISD’s Instructional Technology has developed a procedure by which all developed a procedure by which all video conferences must be video conferences must be scheduled.scheduled.

NISD Video Conference ProceduresNISD Video Conference Procedures

EquipmentEquipment - The DL Cart - The DL Cart

Each campus DL cart is equipped Each campus DL cart is equipped with the following:with the following:• LaptopLaptop• Document cameraDocument camera• Tandberg Unit – camera and brainsTandberg Unit – camera and brains• Remote ControlRemote Control• All Cords NeededAll Cords Needed

Connecting the DL CartConnecting the DL Cart

• Network CableNetwork Cable• Power CordPower Cord• Audio PlugsAudio Plugs• Auxiliary CableAuxiliary Cable

Do not disconnect Do not disconnect anything from the anything from the top or inside of the top or inside of the

cart.cart.

ReferencesReferencesCole, C., Ray K., Zanetis, J. (2004) Cole, C., Ray K., Zanetis, J. (2004)

Videoconferencing for K-12 Classrooms.Videoconferencing for K-12 Classrooms. ISTE. ISTE. Eugene, OREugene, OR

www.cilc.orgwww.cilc.org

www.twice.ccwww.twice.cc

www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/vidconf/vidconf.htmlwww.kn.pacbell.com/wired/vidconf/vidconf.html

http://vickiwiki.pbwiki.com/NWISD%20Video%20Conferenhttp://vickiwiki.pbwiki.com/NWISD%20Video%20Conference%20Academyce%20Academy

Bridging the Gap with Bridging the Gap with Distance LearningDistance Learning