This week I am in Cooperstown, NY meeting with Distance Learning Colleagues from all over New York State. We were fortunate to have the National Baseball Hall of Fame allow us to use their facilities for our meeting. And - James was kind enough to give us all a guided tour of the facility.
BUT, the best piece of the experience was the opportunity to be at the Hall while they presented "Mathematics - Batter Up" to 6th graders from Turner Valley School in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada. The kids were - no surprise - great! They did a fantastic job with their math facts and it was obvious that they were completely comfortable with Interactive Video Conferencing.
The Hall of Fame actually takes their roll around IVC system out in to the display area a while before the conference. This unit consists of a podium and laptop used by the main presenter, plus a laptop and video editing equiment on the cart with the codec and monitor. Using the editing software, they are able to splice together images of the presenter with graphics from the computers. A very nice setup that certainly helps them stay connected and deliver excellent learning opportunities for our students.
I also learned that the Hall of Fame was honored with the Pinnacle Award from CILC for the 2007-2008 school year for being an excellent content provider! I encourage you to check out their programming at http://education.baseballhalloffame.org/experience/videoconferences.html
Having seen this gives me an added appreciation for all the effort required by the content providers! Be sure to thank them!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
DL Excitement
Hi there! We have been meeting via video conference with districts who participate in our service. It has been a great experience and I'm quite happy that we have been able to use our DL equipment which means we haven't had to use tons of gas to travel all over the place. We're doing our small part to help the environment!
I think meeting with everyone using video conferencing equipment is a great way to show how the technology works, while at the same time sharing the information we would like everyone to know about our service.
Today we met with the Arkport district superintendent and some of the teachers in that district. What a fun group to meet first thing in the morning! They were energetic and enthusiastic about the possibilities our service can provide to their district. Their enthusiasm resulted in an additional page on our website listing the content that we provide free of charge to the districts that participate in our service.
Please remember that we are here to help you integrate interactive video conferencing into your curriculum. If you want to locate a content provider, to collaborate with another class via distance, or if you would like to work with us to develop a connection where we provide content for you and your students, contact us at dl@gstboces.org.
I think meeting with everyone using video conferencing equipment is a great way to show how the technology works, while at the same time sharing the information we would like everyone to know about our service.
Today we met with the Arkport district superintendent and some of the teachers in that district. What a fun group to meet first thing in the morning! They were energetic and enthusiastic about the possibilities our service can provide to their district. Their enthusiasm resulted in an additional page on our website listing the content that we provide free of charge to the districts that participate in our service.
Please remember that we are here to help you integrate interactive video conferencing into your curriculum. If you want to locate a content provider, to collaborate with another class via distance, or if you would like to work with us to develop a connection where we provide content for you and your students, contact us at dl@gstboces.org.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
DL and Curriclum Integration
Have you ever used distance learning with your students? Did you enjoy the experience? Did your students enjoy it?
If you answered yes to all of those questions, then you probably know the secret to good distance learning experiences. If you answered no to any of the above, read on to learn ways to directly relate distance learning to your curriculum, making the experience more meaningful for you and your students!
Look at your curriculum and determine how distance learning can be beneficial to your students. Do you want to use distance learning as a way to introduce a concept you are teaching? Would you like to review content with your students using a virtual learning experience? Perhaps your students have been researching a particular topic and would like to ask an expert on the subject some questions... Distance learning can be done in a variety of ways, but to make it most meaningful to your students, there must be a specific, standards-driven purpose for the event.
If money is a concern, there are plenty of ways to use interactive video conferencing that are very cost effective, if not free. Class-to-class collaborations are an excellent way to introduce students to others who are studying the same content so they can share thoughts, ideas, and projects from one place to another. Some content providers offer their services for free. At GST BOCES, Rene Carver, Mary Hutz, and I develop and deliver content to teachers in our participating districts by teacher request. Look to members of your community for possible content providers: veterans, doctors and nurses, business leaders... You could also connect with other classrooms right in your own district!
There are also some excellent content providers who do charge for their time, but at a fraction of the cost compared to having them visit your school, or going by bus to visit them. The Paley Center for Media and Royal Botanical Gardens are two examples of content providers that offer meaningful, standards-driven virtual learning experiences. They also work with teachers to gear the materials toward what students are learning in the classroom.
Check out CILC.org and do a keyword search on your topic to locate content providers and possible collaborations with other classes. If you would like assistance locating quality content to offer your students, along with help integrating it into your curriculum, please contact us!
Talk to you soon!
If you answered yes to all of those questions, then you probably know the secret to good distance learning experiences. If you answered no to any of the above, read on to learn ways to directly relate distance learning to your curriculum, making the experience more meaningful for you and your students!
Look at your curriculum and determine how distance learning can be beneficial to your students. Do you want to use distance learning as a way to introduce a concept you are teaching? Would you like to review content with your students using a virtual learning experience? Perhaps your students have been researching a particular topic and would like to ask an expert on the subject some questions... Distance learning can be done in a variety of ways, but to make it most meaningful to your students, there must be a specific, standards-driven purpose for the event.
If money is a concern, there are plenty of ways to use interactive video conferencing that are very cost effective, if not free. Class-to-class collaborations are an excellent way to introduce students to others who are studying the same content so they can share thoughts, ideas, and projects from one place to another. Some content providers offer their services for free. At GST BOCES, Rene Carver, Mary Hutz, and I develop and deliver content to teachers in our participating districts by teacher request. Look to members of your community for possible content providers: veterans, doctors and nurses, business leaders... You could also connect with other classrooms right in your own district!
There are also some excellent content providers who do charge for their time, but at a fraction of the cost compared to having them visit your school, or going by bus to visit them. The Paley Center for Media and Royal Botanical Gardens are two examples of content providers that offer meaningful, standards-driven virtual learning experiences. They also work with teachers to gear the materials toward what students are learning in the classroom.
Check out CILC.org and do a keyword search on your topic to locate content providers and possible collaborations with other classes. If you would like assistance locating quality content to offer your students, along with help integrating it into your curriculum, please contact us!
Talk to you soon!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Discover CAPSpace!
CAPSpace (http://projects.twice.cc/) is a social networking site for people interested in collaborating on distance learning projects with other classes around the country and potentially around the world! If you are interested in signing up to be on the CAPSpace listserv, please watch the video below to learn more about this excellent resource:
Friday, September 5, 2008
K12 DL - Doable and Practical!
I just read a TechLearning article called "Videoconferencing in K12 Classrooms: Doable and Practical, FINALLY!" It's a great article for anyone who is interested in exploring ways that interactive video conferencing can benefit students at a fraction of the cost and time of ordinary field trips.
If you are hesitant about trying distance learning, lay your fears aside because to me, distance learning is one of the friendlier technologies to use because someone else has done most of the work for you! Your district's distance learning contact person hooks up the equipment for you. If you participate in the GST BOCES Distance Learning Service, you can have support throughout the process. After that, it's all about planning and being prepared, just like you would for any other lesson. When using distance learning, as with any other technology, you always want to prepare a plan B in the event that the connection doesn't work.
Stop back and visit this blog often to learn more information about distance learning and interactive video conferencing!
If you are hesitant about trying distance learning, lay your fears aside because to me, distance learning is one of the friendlier technologies to use because someone else has done most of the work for you! Your district's distance learning contact person hooks up the equipment for you. If you participate in the GST BOCES Distance Learning Service, you can have support throughout the process. After that, it's all about planning and being prepared, just like you would for any other lesson. When using distance learning, as with any other technology, you always want to prepare a plan B in the event that the connection doesn't work.
Stop back and visit this blog often to learn more information about distance learning and interactive video conferencing!
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