VC UserGroup, February 25

Student Projects and Collaborations

1. Critters in the Cold-Review by Lola

   Ann Arbor Museum website

    

   Notes from Rebecca about the program

2. Weather With Rusty

   Main Website

   His Blog

   The Teacher Evaluation

3. Read Around the Planet

   Main Website

   Ideas for Presentations from Janine and from me.

   Unofficial RAP

4. Snake, Rattle, and Stand Still

   We have an interactive spot at 10:00 AM this Friday! Register now to have it.

5. K-2 Collaborations for April and May (Michigan and Texas)

   We will sent a form to collect information on participating sites in March.

   Down in the Deep

6. ESC Region 14 schools need partners

   All programs are posted on the Connect2Texas website.

Summer Training

123VC: Jazzing Up Your Curriculum with Videoconferencing

Register Online

Session I: June 16-20

Session II: July 28-Aug 1

Scheduling Info

Using Renovo software video

1. Most staff development and TETN sessions are built in Renovo.
2. Student projects that Shane and I moderate, coordinate, etc-We will schedule those on the bridge.
3. Point-to-Point connections should be added using "New Reservation" that will NOT schedule the bridge, but will add it into the report.

Partner Information

COSI COLUMBUS SURVEY

COSI is in the process of developing a new videoconference program on weather for elementary students.  We need teachers to tell us what they want in this program, so we can provide it for them.  If you have a moment, could you please forward this to elementary teachers that are interested in videoconferencing or would want more weather content to offer their students?

TWICE Discount

When you search content providers on TWICE, if you see a TWICE discount, you can use it!

Polycom Special Events

These are free for Polycom customers. They all use the ASK format that we have been trained in.

Conference Information

TCEA Presentation: Virtually Free by Roxanne and Paula

TxDLA Conference

Dates: March 24-27, 2008

NECC Conference

Dates: June 29-July 2

SIGIVC Wiki

RUS Update

$1 million upgrade to the EDLINK12 core equipment with 31 school endpoints. Some members will get new endpoints. All members will benefit from additional bridging, streaming, recording, and connectivity enhancements.

1. Schools (campuses)  had to be extremely rural and poor to qualify.
2. Our board and the Chapter 41 consortium put in $500,000 matching funds. The grant is $500,000.
3. Purchasing begins this week in three phases.
4. Unfortunately, none of these monies may be used for the purchase of Shane Howard Band CDs which must continue to be purchased from local, personal budgets.
5. Look for additional site manager trainings in the coming year and additional student projects.