In this workshop, participants will learn the ropes of videoconferencing by participating in a classroom to classroom videoconference, and explore and save links for a multitude of global learning resources and projects. We will learn about Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy and Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy as we partner up to create a collaborative lesson, integrating higher order thinking skills,  customized for your curriculum.

Introductions of presenters, schedule for day, vending machines and restrooms

What is Video conferencing?

http://www.noodletrip.com/resources.php

Videoconferencing is an interactive tool that combines the use of video, computing, and communications technologies to allow people in different locations to meet face-to-face in real-time. All sites participating in the videoconference can see, hear and contribute to the dialogues.

Videoconferencing uses traditional television technology and transmits the signal live to single or multiple sites. Videoconferencing utilizes "compressed video" technology. Compressed video technology is video images that have been processed to remove redundant information, thereby decreasing the amount of bandwidth required to send them over a telecommunications channel. Instead of transmitting full motion video frames, only the changes in moving frames are captured and transmitted.

The videoconference connection is typically made using ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) or IP (Internet Protocol). The standard for these connection types are H.320 and H.323 respectively.

There are two types of videoconferences:

Point-to-Point Videoconference

Calls take place between two or three locations (or sites).

Multi-Point Videoconference

Calls take place among several (three or more) locations (or sites) and all participate in the same videoconference (similar to a telephone conference call). A Multi-Point Videoconference requires the use of a video bridge.

Also See page 3 of the Project Booklet. http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl/media/ProjectsBooklet.doc

Thinking Machine venn diagram of uses of Video Conferences-we will concentrate on 2: Collaboration and Curriculum Enhancement.

http://thinkingmachine.pbwiki.com/Think-Interactive-Videoconferencing#WhatIsInteracticeVideoconferencing

A Teacher’s Guide to VC- Great Interactive site for teachers to learn how to Video Conference

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/vc/teachersVCsite/pages/homepage.html

 For more resources click the link to What is a Video Conference on the Side Bar.

Let’s Look at some Video Conferences

*Pen Pals- second graders and high schoolers conferencing after pen pals

http://dl.remc11.k12.mi.us/QuickTime/projects/PenPals.mov

*Brief video of a Video Conference for Read Across America Day

http://dl.remc11.k12.mi.us/QuickTime/projects/RAA.mov

in David Warlick's 2Cents Worth Blog:

From  an activity that took place the other day between students in the UK and students in China.  It was a Chinese language lesson where they had video and audio conferencing and were able to share the interactive white board.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8cnzHVsDXY 

 For more resources click the Sample Video Conferences Link on the Side Bar

Let’s Try One

Divide into groups for live VC

We will divide into 2 groups

One group in classroom

One group in lab

We will get to know each other using Videoconference

You will have a sheet with all of the Workshop Participants names on it.

As you introduce yourself, be sure to tell us your name, where you teach, your grade level/area, and what kind of in district videoconference you would be interested in arranging with another participant.

Also what do you want to do with or learn about, or already know about VC?

As you listen to introductions, note the areas, or topic of interest because you will be parterning up to plan a videoconference with someone to do next year.

Let’s Create A Lesson using Video Conferencing

Handout from Oregon state about the hardware

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/esoc/ectu/services/lessons/manuals/PolyCom_VSX_7000_Handout.pdf

Videoconference etiquette

http://www.hbg.psu.edu/iit/mw2/etiquette.htm

Planning Templates

Format Information for Mystery Quests, use as a guide for setting up your own, or joining one 

http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl/MQBeach/MysteryQuestBeachHandout.doc

 For more lesson plan templates see the link for Creating Video Conference and Global Learning Lessons in the Side Bar

 HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) and Video Conference= a perfect match

Bloom’s Revised and Digital Taxonomies

http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Bloom's+and+ICT+tools

for more resources on Bloom's see the link for Creating Video Conference and Global Learning Lessons in the Side Bar

As we start looking at resources and thinking about planning a VC lesson, keep these HOTS in mind….

For Interactive Video Conferences, Field Trips and Global Learning Activities resources see the Virtual Field Trips, Interactive Video Conferences and Global Learning Activities link in the Side Bar 

Partner up and create a lesson integrating HOTS, and video conferencing.

You can also plan a/some Global Learning activities ....

Share Lesson ideas, if time

DistanceLearningVille  http://www.123vc.net/mod/resource/view.php?id=234

Tips from Chris:

1. Move the mic away from the polycom system

2. We can only do point to point with the IP system. If you need do more than one contact at a time,you will need to use a bridge.

3. Keep looking for IP until IS upgrades the bridge.

4. Two options:

    a. on back of polycom there is a port to connect the vcr and record the conference

    b. on media server you will be able to do both record and store

Ideas for use

Ways to contact the other schools in order to set up conferences

Set up some kind of EISD video conference and collaborative classroom activity forum or board that everybody can check to make connections.. a wiki probably?  Maybe add personal contacts on the wiki to help insure contact...Add a page for Video Conference reviews..Add a page for Everyday 

Math

Hot Air Balloon Activity- start the year off with something like this...for example Asia...

Sometimes you contact, do a lot of work, send it off, and get nothing...

Noodletrip free stuff: wetlands, a company in Australia will take VC underwater...