Teach Digital: Curriculum by Wes Fryer

 

virtualfieldtrips

Page history last edited by Wesley Fryer 5 mos ago

Videoconferencing Collaborations and Virtual Field Trips

OVERVIEW: Interactive videoconferencing provides an outstanding modality for engaging students in the learning process and permitting them to experience new learning opportunities that might otherwise be impossible. In this session, we will explore different options for K-12 virtual field trips using videoconferencing and discuss the requirements for setting up the videoconference and actually connecting. We'll discuss ways to activate student schema with pre-conference activities, and also explore possibilities for safely using videoconferencing for class to class exchanges across the nation or the globe. (While this workshop focuses on interactive virtual field trips that use videoconferencing, this wiki includes links to non-interactive / online virtual field trips as well.)

 

Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike photo

VFTs with Videoconferencing (synchronous, interactive)

  1. What is a virtual field trip? (using videoconferencing)
    1. WikiPedia definition
    2. Intro to Educational Videoconferencing
    3. Favorite virtual field trips from Berrien County Intermediate School District (Michigan)
    4. Our favorite virtual field trips (a collaborative wiki space for workshop participants)
  2. What equipment do I need?
    1. HARDWARE BASED
      1. Traditional (hardware based) videoconferencing requires videoconferencing equipment (a CODEC) and a fast Internet connection.
      2. Videoconferencing equipment and connectivity info from AT&T
    2. SOFTWARE BASED
      1. Desktop (software based) videoconferencing requires a computer, a fast Internet connection, a webcam a microphone and videoconferencing sofware.
      2. Free videoconferencing software includes Skype, iChat (Mac only), and Yahoo Messenger. These programs do not used standards-based videoconferencing technologies, they only connect to other people using the same videoconferencing software program.
      3. Free standards-based (H.323) videoconferencing software includes Ekiga (Windows and Linux) and XMeeting (Macintosh).
      4. Commercial standards-based (H.323) videoconferencing software includes Polycom PVX software (Windows-only).
  3. Examples
    1. NASA's Digital Learning Network Event Catalog - Free! - NASA Digital Learning Network overview from Damon Talley (PDF)
    2. Using Google Video Chat to Visit the National Constituton Center (Eric Langhorst, 8th grade US History teacher in Liberty, Missouri, using Google Mail Videoconferencing)
    3. The Buffalo Zoo in Buffalo, New York
    4. The Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana
    5. The San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California

 

Make Connections!

 

  1. CLASSROOM COLLABORATORS: Find classrooms for collaborative projects
    1. Register for a free account with ePals and search or advertise for collaborative project partners (use the advanced search option to restrict search results to JUST classrooms with audio/video conferencing software and hardware access)
    2. Use the Skype in Schools wiki
    3. Use List of Classrooms keen to use Skype to connect with other classrooms (Sue Waters)
    4. Search for "skype" in the CILC's Collaboration Center under active projects
    5. Use GlobalSchoolNet's Internet Projects Registry
    6. Connect with another classroom teacher via an educational social network like the Global Education Collaborative , Classroom 2.0, or the ISTE Community.
  2. VIRTUAL GUEST SPEAKERS: Find an expert to connect to your class
    1. Use the Skype in Schools wiki (list yourself or your classroom too!)
    2. Use the MERLOT Virtual Speaker's Bureau (geared toward higher education)
  3. CONTENT PROVIDERS: Find available virtual field trip videoconference providers
    1. CILC and Tandberg Search for Interactive Learning Opportunities
    2. Polycom Videoconference Content Provider Database-
    3. Educational Videoconferencing Content Provider Directories from AT&T
    4. Videoconference Adventures from AT&T
    5. Use NoodleTrips to locate content providers

 

Do you know of other directories or resources for making videoconferencing connections? If so, please share them by leaving a comment (with a link) on the Speed of Creativity post from 3 Jan 2009, "Skype Virtual Guest Speakers and Collaboration wiki."

 

Other Resources

  1. My videoconferencing social bookmarks (websites related to videoconferencing, usually in classroom contexts.)
  2. AT&T Knowledge Network Explorer: Videoconferencing for Learning Homepage
  3. University of Illinois' Resources and Information on Videoconferencing
  4. Teaching with ePals - Links to projects, suggestions for classroom strategies, etc.

 

VFTs with a Web Browser (asynchronous, non-interactive)

 

  1. Examples
    1. Monterey Bay Aquarium
    2. Yellowstone Wolves
    3. The Tornado Field Trip
    4. Online virtual musuems
    5. Online VFTs organized by content area from the Utah Education Network
    6. More from eFieldTrips (registration before the trip required)

 

Other Resources

 

 

Education photo by Marco Torres

 

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License.

 

Please direct questions about this resource to Wesley Fryer.

 

 

 

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