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Video Conferencing – IP conferencing

Some basic information

What is video conferencing?

You are using video conferencing anytime you use technology to connect 2 or more locations by video and audioDistance learning uses video conferencing• For the 2002/03 school year, NCCSC used video

conferencing to broadcast the live rat dissection to other NCCSC schools

• NCCSC conducted a conference with teachers in Taiwan

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Why use video conferencing

Allows you to bring resources into your classroom that you might not be able to experience “in person”• Virtual field trips• Watch a presentation from a school in another

state of country• Share a lesson with other schools

What is the cost?

To communicate directly with another location (like a school or business) there is not cost to connectMany distance learning opportunities do have a fee• Indianapolis Zoo• Virtual field trips

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Equipment

NCCSC is using Polycom Viewstationvideo conferencing systems• Purchased thru Video Distance Learning

grant

Equipment can be moved to classroom or library for useWill only require connecting power and network cable

What is what?ViewStation FX• Parker, Eastwood and

Technology Center• Join up to 3 add’n

connections• Can add Elmo• Up to 4 cameras• VCR can be used• 2 mics

H323• Riley and Sunnyside

• Point-to-Point only• 1 mic

ViaVideo• Wilbur Wright and

Westwood• Point-to-Point only• Uses a camera

connected to computer• Does allow application

sharing

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What about CU-SeeMe?

This technology is best suited to a “chat”situation – not class participation• But it was a good place to start

Camera worked great for one-on-one but not a large groupAudio worked best with headphone/microphone• Which did not promote classroom situations

Let’s go over some definitionsPoint-to-Point• 2 participants

• Remote• Host

Multi-Point• More than 1 remote

Remote• Outside locations

participatingIP-to-IP• Making a direct call using

the IP address• Not using Click-to-Meet

• Clearer connection

Polycom• Company that makes video

equipment• ViewStation FX• ViaVideo

IP address• Internet Protocol• The 11 digit number for a

website• xxx.xxx.xxx.xx• All website addresses

translate to a number

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More terms…

IHETS• Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication

System• Provides a bridge when necessary

Bridge• When you let IHETS schedule your

conference instead of “calling” yourself• Required when connecting with those using Vision

Athena

Click to Meet – a short intro http://ctm.ihets.org

A website that lists all Indiana schools and locations that are certified for IP conferencing• Uses IHETS as a “bridge”

Point and click schedulingEasy to add participants (multi-point)Browser-based controlsDoes not show IP address of registered users

A Green check indicates “ready to call”Just select your participantsClick Call NowA call made without scheduling resources will go thru as long as resources are available.There may be times when resources are already booked.There is a separate handout on using Click to Meet

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First steps…Determine the location of your conference• Classroom• Library

Connect equipment• Power Cord• Network cable

• May require that you “unplug” a computer that is already connected by a blue network cable.

• Unplug cable from the wall• Plug the cable provided

with the unit in the wall port

Decide if you are going to connect to:• An NCCSC school• Someone else

If you will be connecting with an NCCSC location• All NCCSC locations

involved will need to make some setting changes

• Refer to the Set up handout for instructions

Contact that location(NCCSC or other) to set up a time for conference

Important things to remember!Point-to-point• Remote location in large

view and host in a PIP in the lower right hand corner

• Picking up the remote will eliminate host PIP

• Location will be shown at bottom of screen

• Use tent cards to identify if more than 1 person at each location

Multi-point• Suggest tent cards to

identify location as well as individuals

• Recommend setting for voice activated(this is default for CTM)• Camera moves to the

person speaking• Recommend that you

give your name before speaking to give the camera time to focus on you before you begin talking

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Etiquette

When you/your location is not speaking• Mute microphone• It is very sensitive

Speak strong and clearAvoid tapping fingers, pens, etc.

Don’t zoom too close• No one needs to see

nose hairs!

Don’t fidget or multi-taskNo constant motion• This will blur the

picture

Set upArrive early• Allow time for set up and

test equipmentUse remote to set up pre-set camera views if desiredCheck lightingCheck room layoutRed, Yellow and Orange colors do not transmit clearly

If handouts required, be sure remote location have these before conference• Posting to website for

download or emailTry to wear solid, muted colors• Avoid busy patterns or

loud colors• Red does not work well

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Additional equipmentOn the ViewStation FX units• Elmo can be connected

VCR’s can be connected • Allows you to show a

video

VCR can be used to record conference, but…• You may need signed

permission from ALL participants

• Check into this before your conference to allow time to get permission

• Check with your administrator for guidance on this one!

Resources

Click-To-Meet tutorial• http://www.ihets.org/progserv/video/vidconf/tutorials/ctmtutorial.pdf

IP Video Information for Classroom Instructors• http://www.ihets.org/progserv/video/vidconf/tutorials/instructors/ip_tutorial_instructors.html

Excellent video on conferencing etiquette• http://www.doit.wisc.edu/Training/pte/video/media/VC1M

bps.ram• This link uses Real Player

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Related websites Remember that there may be fees on virtual field trips and Vision Athena programs

Global Schoolhouse Classroom Conferencing• http://www.globalschoolhouse.org/cu/

K-12 Video Conferencing• http://neirtec.terc.edu/k12vc/

SBC Videoconferencing Adventures• http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/vidconf/adventures.html

Vision Athena• http://www.visionathena.k12.in.us/pub/index.html