Videoconferencing Out on a Lim

For the last several months, as I’ve been considering my PhD research, I’ve been wishing that we had a really good descriptive name for what we do - connecting to content providers, guest experts, authors, classroom-to-classroom projects, international cultural exchanges, etc.

Some names we have used are Videoconference Adventures, Electronic Education, Virtual Field Trip, and Expeditions. But these don’t really capture an all inclusive idea of using videoconferencing for curriculum based experiences.

I’ve been guilty of using the term “enrichment” to describe what we do. But enrichment has a connotation of an add-on, an extra. Some thing that is optional. We all know schools who have so thoroughly integrated videoconferencing into the curriculum that whole grade levels annually participate in activities that tightly match their curriculum. So enrichment doesn’t really work either.

So, what do you think of the term “curriculum videoconferencing?” It’s simple and straightforward. The emphasis is on CURRICULUM, right where it should be. It uses the most common term for this technology, videoconferencing. It works to include all the types of K12 videoconferences for the curriculum - authors, content providers, projects, collaborations. We could add K12 in front, but higher ed is dabbling in this use of VC too.  Curriculum Videoconferencing. Has a nice ring, doesn’t it?

What do you think? Does it work? Can you think of a better term?

Are you reading Nancy Shives’ blog from the Frazier International History Museum? Here’s a story of a new content provider getting started. They’ve only done 5 programs so far, but already they are encouraging nearby museums to start offering content.

We were lucky to have many guest join us. On the 25th we had Fronda and Amy from the Muhammad Ali Museum just down the street. They are looking into starting a VC program and wanted to sit in and watch what we’re doing. We hope to work with them more in the future.

I think it’s awesome that they are sharing their first experiences. It helps the rest of us remember that we are partners with content providers, not just consumers of their content!

NECC Presentation Proposals are due October 3!!

So, are you going to present? We need lots more videoconferencing sessions so our favorite technology, VC, is well represented this year. Here’s my dream presentations list (I posted it for Elevate 2008 too - those are due in November).

• Roxanne Glaser, TX a session on collaborative tools that support videoconferencing (like we’re using in Jazz etc.).
• Global Nomads Group, NY with the session including a simulation of Pulse like they did for us in Jazz last week.
• Jim Wenzloff, MI on the ASK process, with a live interview included. Make us cry with The Wall, Jim!
• Shane Howard, TX on how bridge guys can be fun and provide cool content too. How to hook up avatars to a Polycom PVX. How to work with creative educators and not lose your cool. Suggested Title: “How to support K12 videoconferencing with two MCUs and a sense of humor.”
• Bering Straits School District, AK, on how to provide cool content based in your community.
• Craig Moellerstein from GCI School Access, AK, on how to put a codec on a sled and VC to the world.
• Karachi High School on all the interesting VCs they are doing.
• Mike Griffiths, Global Leap, tips on successful international videoconferences.
• Joyce Chen on how to start a high school videoconferencing club.
• InteractiveClassroom.ca on how their collaborative community started/is doing and the state of VC in Ontario.
• Tim Boundy on UKERNA/JANET and how to collaborate with schools on UKERNA.
• The Megaconference Jr. crew on virtual testimonials, VJs, and how to organize student run VCs.
• Someone to do a clear explanation of the state of GDS dialing and a discussion of whether the K12 community ought to be embracing this dialing plan as a solution to firewall problems.
• Angela Conrad on class cheers and creative ways to help classes feel connected to each other. Maybe on podcasting IVC sessions too?
• A roundtable discussion of those who coordinate the videoconference sessions at their statewide/provincial edtech conferences. We could learn from each other and trade good ideas for speakers.
• I’d like to see our favorite content providers share best practices and models of quality instruction & interaction. Challenger Learning Center’s eMissions should present too!
• Carol Fleck and Kim Perry from OH from Keystone a few years ago for the full length classes crowd. They have more tricks for true interaction and blending the classes across the sites than anyone I’ve ever seen/heard present.
• A roundtable on Read Around the Planet technical problems with vendors coming to listen and learn. What if we all brought our wildest stories to share?! Wouldn’t that be fun!?
• Someone to try out my IP VCR projects in the new projects booklet & report on how they went.
• Dave Miller & Paul Hieronymous on their annual professional development series, one of the most in depth successful (i.e. 20-30 connections a year per teacher) PD programs I’ve seen.
• MAGPI - on Internet2 and all the cool collaborative things they are doing.

Can you think of anyone else who should present?

Here are some recent updates to our VC Program Database linked on TWICE and Polycom.

Providers With New Programs

• Amon Carter Museum
• Author Ben Mikaelson
• Bass Performing Arts Center
• Botanical Research Institute of Texas
• Camden Children’s Garden
• COSI Columbus
• COSI Toledo
• NASA
• New York State Historical Association
• Round Trips
• Royal Botanical Gardens
• Rutgers Camden Center For The Arts
• Touch The Sky

Also we are are now listing over 2000 programs from 250 providers! Yeah!!

Today I spent the day helping out at the AT&T / MACUL Student Technology Showcase. Teams of students displayed technology projects in the halls of the Michigan State Capitol Building. After the teams had set up their display boards and laptops with sample student projects, the halls filled with legislators, photographers, and reporters. A nice variety of multimedia, programming, video production, podcasting, and digital storytelling projects were shared as students practiced their presentation skills.

Of course the team with the word “videoconferencing” in their title caught my eye! A class had a book club conversation with another class within the district. They used 12 webcams in the lab. The other school had 12 webcams as well. Students talked about the book one-on-one with the student at the other site. They usually talked to each other during their lunch time. They used NetMeeting and used the chat when the picture/audio was freezing up.

It’s an interesting use of desktop videoconferencing. I think we’ll continue to see applications of both web based and classroom videoconferencing that make sense for the curriculum. What great uses of desktop VC in the classroom have you seen recently?

In my current online class, Planning Interactive Curriculum Connections, we’re discussing the various content providers and how you might select one program over another. Pam Bontrager, elementary media specialist for Buchanan Community Schools, shared this succinct pithy description of how she evaluates programs:

I look at different criteria when choosing VC’s that may work in the classroom. Obviously I look at grade level the program covers. Cost can be a factor. We do have an opportunity to be awarded grants, which help cover the cost of VC’s. The time that the program is being shown is important. I will say most of the programs we have signed up for at this point have had flexible scheduling, but if they have certain times and dates then I need to take that into account. Programs length, amount of student involvement, whether it enhances the curriculum, how the program was evaluated by other participants, the amount of preparation that is required. I really try to find programs that supplement what the teachers are covering and the students will find fun and interesting. At this point it is like pulling teeth to get some of them involved in VC’s, so I also attempt to find programs that do not have a lot of prep work and is hands on.

What are the criteria that you use to select a program from a content provider? Content providers, do you get feedback like this from educators? What do you think of this list of criteria? Please comment!

Yesterday I had a question in my email about one of my upcoming online classes, Kid2Kid Videoconference Connections.

I am potentially interested in your course Kid2Kid Videoconferencing Connections session. I have a couple of questions:
Would we actually be paired with another classroom to work with?
Is this appropriate for the middle school level (I teach 7th grade)?

Here’s my answer for your reading…

You will find a partner one way or another. It could be with someone else in the class depending on who signs up. We’ll also teach you how to find partners on the listservs, etc. Or I can “twist arms” of teachers in the 18 school districts I work with to find a partner for you. So yes, one way or another we’ll have a partner for you to connect with!

On the grade level, this class is definitely appropriate for middle school (all grade levels!). One of the huge challenges of using VC with middle school is the cost of programs for multiple sections; and the difficulty of scheduling programs during the class period. This class will address both of these challenges. We’ll help you design a project meeting your curriculum, one that will connect with another class (free connection!), and teach you ways to advertise so that you can get the videoconference scheduled with each section if you so desire.

Hopefully YOU can join us for the next section of this class starting on October 8!

Did you see COSI Columbus’ cool new newsletter in your email this week? Pretty slick & full of good information in an easy-to-read pretty format!

If you’re not on their listserv, you should be! Subscribe to COSI’s Electronic Education v-News by sending a request to electroniceducation@mail.cosi.org.

Rebecca Polityka, CSD, and I are thinking the same things today!! I just added my Best Program Lists to our Favorite Field Trips page. I know a lot of you use that page. I used to make lists like this at the beginning of every school year to get my schools to sign up for programs. But now, I’m so busy, I just refer my schools to the lists I did before on my blog. They are getting a little outdated but are still useful.

So, stop by Rebecca’s blog and comment with your favorites!

Unfortunately, I can’t comment on blogs from my work connection, so count this as my comment/vote, Rebecca!

Is your year starting with busy scheduling of videoconferencing? Mine sure is. I’ve been ruing the day that I taught my schools to sign up for programs early in the school year. *chuckles* I’m certainly paying for it now!!

Last year on this date, I had 85 requests; the year before 35 requests. This year we have 211 total program requests as of right now and 89 of them are scheduled already.  Whew!

It’s a great problem, and to address it, we’re continuing to work on training building coordinators to do their own scheduling when possible. I can see it’s going to be another great year of offering quality content & curriculum experiences to our local students.

How is your year starting off?