What's Happening w/ the GST DL Team?

It's a snow day for most of our districts today, but we're hard at work on some projects that we need to finish up. We've been very busy and we are enjoying working with teachers in our region and collaborating with people outside of our region, as well!

Rene worked with a teacher in Bradford today who needs to learn to use the DL equipment so she can teach a statistics class by video conference. This morning, I met by video conference with Donna Farren from Monroe2 BOCES and a teacher she worked with today to talk about video conferencing.

This afternoon we are going to have a phone conference to plan for our Summer Jazz training ("Jazz Up Your Curriculum with Interactive Video Conferencing"). Funny to think that it is January and we are starting to plan for July already! I can't wait for the warm weather to get here. I'm kind of tired of the snow! In fact, I can't take it anymore!! We need some warm weather... now.

Monday, February 2, we are doing a video conference with Bradford to talk about how our team can help teachers in that district. Mary Hutz will be visiting Bradford, and Rene and I will be presenting via distance.

Today, I've also been working on some plans for DL Etiquette lessons I'm doing for grades 2-4 for Arkport by video conference that I'm doing on February 4. I plan to do Pictionary Vocabulary with the second graders; a MysteryQuest with the third grades; and a Monster Match with grade 4. We'll also play a game of Simon Says to work on remembering the behaviors we expect during video conferences. I hope the kids enjoy it! My teammate Kelley Batrowny came up with the Simon Says activity idea. She's always coming up with awesome ideas!

There's so much more happening, but I thought I would share this information, particularly for those who might be planning distance learning events in another region. If you would like to help us by connecting to our trainings, visiting with our teachers by video conference when we meet with them to discuss DL, or help in some other capacity, complete the form at the bottom of our blog to become part of our GST DL Network!

Synergy and Communication

Mary and I connected with Amy Spath at CNYRIC and Betsy Hardy and Jenny Burroughs from Catt-Allegany BOCES yesterday morning by video conference to discuss distance learning and how we can support each other using this technology.

We discussed events happening around the region, ideas for helping people get involved in distance learning in our districts, and so much more - we really had an awesome conversation. I'm so glad to have connected with them and look forward to collaborating with them soon!

This meeting got me thinking about ways I could increase my network of DL friends across the state, or anywhere else for that matter...

If you scroll down to the bottom of this blog, you'll notice a form you can fill out if you have video conference equipment and are willing to collaborate with us when we do training or presentations that might require assistance from others.

I've also added a feature above this blog's archive on the top right side of this page that allows you to type messages to me as long as I am logged on to my blog account. Great for times when you have a quick question. Click "Chat with Cheryl Tice" in the thought bubble, and you can type a message to me and I'll answer back. The best part about it is, each person who communicates with me this way has their own window so you can't see what others are saying. Only I can see all of the conversations at once! Thanks to my teammate Kelley Batrowny for showing me that fun tool! Extremely nifty and fabulous!

If you participate in the GST DL Service and have suggestions for ways we can better help you integrate video conferencing into your curriculum, please feel free to make comments here or send us an email! DL@gstboces.org

Intro to DL Session with Addison Teachers

I had fun on Wednesday for an hour after school, chatting with Addison teachers by video conference about distance learning and introducing them to interactive video conferencing.


We did a Monster Match where the teachers learned about a collaborative IVC project where each class designs a monster and explains how to draw it using words. Those in attendance drew theirs perfectly, of course! Thanks to Michelle Bartholomew from BT BOCES for sharing in the fun and describing a monster for the participants.

After they finished the monster, we discussed ideas for using that activity with Math, Science, Technology, and English topics.

Then we did a MysteryQuest with Paul Rubeo from a school district somewhere in New York State. (Well, you never know if we're going to do the same quest again, right?) Then we talked about ways MysteryQuest could be adapted for a variety of content areas.

In that same hour, I showed the Addison teachers how to quickly search http://cilc.org for content providers. We discussed CAPSpace and why it is an excellent resource for finding collaborative video conferencing partners. Then I showed them our website and some of the resources that are available all in one place to make finding interactive video conference ideas, upcoming GST DL training, and other information about DL as easy as possible.

I ended our training by talking about our DL service and how teachers in subscribing districts receive both instructional and technical support for video conference projects.

If you would like us to do a similar training for your district, please contact us! DL@gstboces.org

RAP Special Education Class Request

Here is another collaborative project that a special education teacher has requested on CAPSpace. She would like to do this at some time between February 23 - March 6.

Title: Read Around the Planet Special Request:
Status: Open
URL: http://projects.twice.cc/?l=collaboration&id=177
Connections: H.323
Grades: 5, 6, 7, 8
Subjects:
Dates: 9:30 – 10:00 or 10:30 –11:00 EST During RAP weeks

Description: I would like to participate in Read Around the Planet this year. It has been a few years since doing so. I have a special education, self-contained class of eight middle school students grades five through eight. I would like to play Pictionary with a partner class drawing/guessing the titles of fairy tales. We could do two minute rounds alternating between drawing and guessing. I would like to coordinate with the other teacher to do some pre-video planning.

The best times would be either 9:30 – 10:00 or 10:30 – 11:00.

If you are interested, please contact us at DL@gstboces.org to get this teacher's name and contact information. Thanks!

French IV and V: CAPSpace Collaborative IVC Project

Title: French IV and V:
Status: Open
URL: http://projects.twice.cc/?l=collaboration&id=176
Connections: H.320/H.323
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects:
Dates: French V 9:10 - 10:15 M-F French IV 11:30 - 1:30 or either can meet at 10:30 - 11:30 CST
Description: This teacher is a high school French teacher who is looking for another class to collaborate and communicate with. Their students are level V and IV. They are on a block schedule where students meet every day for 90 minutes.

If you are interested in this collaborative video conferencing project, please click the link above and log in to CAPSpace to access the contact information for this teacher, or email DL@gstboces.org for more information.

Viewing Inauguration activities

Several of our school districts have only one or two regular television access points in their district. Using their H.323 codecs, we've been able to connect the cable signal to the codecs, enable streaming and then provide instructions to staff for accessing the stream. This will enable many more people to see live coverage of the activities of Inauguration Day.

Feel free to contact us at dl@gstboces.org if you would like to make similar arrangments

AP English - Collaborative IVC Project Request

Title: AP English Exchange:
Status: Open
URL: http://projects.twice.cc/?l=collaboration&id=174
Connections: H.320
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Subjects: English
Dates: Feb and March of 2009
Description: This teacher is looking for another AP English Class to meet for about 20-30 minutes once a week to discuss AP level work, college plans, or other important topics for AP students.

The time would be split to allow equal time per school to share information about their AP classes. There would also be time for students to ask each other questions to compare/contrast their AP experience with other classrooms across the country.

To access more information about this collaborative interactive video conference project, click the above link and log in to CAPSpace to view contact information. Please let us know if you have questions or if you would like the email address to contact this teacher!

Anybody out there want to connect with the San Francisco Giants?

The information below the dotted line was received through one of the many listservs that promote DL/IVC. While other ball clubs may also have DL/IVC program, the San Francisco Giants are the first ball club I've seen advertising for it. If your students like baseball you may also want to consider checking out programs from the Baseball Hall of Fame - http://education.baseballhalloffame.org/experience/videoconferences.html
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We were hoping you could help us to set up a test connection with a middle school, specifically 6th – 8th grade, to run through our pilot distance learning lesson “Giants Geometry”. The lesson is approximately 45 minutes focusing on geometric shapes present in the ballpark and in the game of baseball. Students will also calculate the area of home plate and participate in a hands-on activity. Attached are the presentation worksheets. Teachers will need to supply simple wooden sticks, such as popsicle sticks, and push pins. My contact information is below, or please contact Linda Vessa at lvessa2@yahoo.com.
Alexis Arbizu
Ballpark Tours Manager
AT&T Park
24 Willie Mays Plaza
San Francisco, CA 94107aarbizu@attpark.com
(415) 972-1852 Phone
(415) 947-2925 Fax
www.attpark.com

Collaborative IVC Project Ideas

I am a member of CAPSpace and periodically I receive emails about teachers who are looking for other classes to participate in collaborative video conference projects. Now and then when something looks fun, I will post it here with the web address.

If you see something you like in the examples below, sign up for a CAPSpace account (or log in to your CAPSpace account) and click the links in this post so you can access contact information for the teachers who made each request.
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Title: Culture Exchange:
Status: Open http://projects.twice.cc/?l=collaboration&id=172
Connections: H.323
Grades: 6
Subjects:
Dates: Between Feb. 23 and March 6 any day but Friday 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time
Description: We would like to connect our 6th graders to a class on another continent like Australia or Africa for a culture exchange. The exchange could be a dance, a song or other custom.
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Title: Video Conference Test:
Status: Open http://projects.twice.cc/?l=collaboration&id=173
Connections: H.323
Grades: PreK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Subjects:
Dates: Friday March 20 from 9:45-10:00 or 10:30-10:45
Description: I am looking for a class or teacher to demonstrate the uses of video conferencing during a Technology Fair that is taking place at my school. I would like to have our school dial into the connection site and have a short discussion about the positive impact video conferencing has on instruction.

DL Database Progress

I just met with the programmer today and he is doing an excellent job on the DL database! He's already made quite a bit of progress, but it will be a while before it is fully functional.

Remember to check out the videos below and submit your thoughts to us soon, so we can include the functionality you need as part of the database.

:-)